And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
- BSB And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
- NKJV And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
- NASB Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
- NLT There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon Him. It matters because it affirms the real human development of the Son of God.
Overview
Luke summarizes Jesus' childhood growth in body, strength, and wisdom, with God's favor resting on Him. This affirms His genuine humanity, developing as a true child, while never ceasing to be the Son of God. The incarnate Lord grew up under the gracious blessing of His Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Luke 2:52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
- Luke 1:80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
- Isa 11:1–5And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
- John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- 1 Sam 2:26And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
- 1 Sam 3:19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
- Isa 53:1–2Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
- Luke 2:47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
- Eph 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Ps 22:9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
- 1 Sam 2:18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
- Judg 13:24And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
- 2 Tim 2:1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Ps 45:2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
- Col 2:2–3That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
- Acts 4:33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 2:40 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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