but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Parallel translations
- KJV But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
- BSB Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
- NKJV but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
- NASB Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
- NLT because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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
Assuming Jesus was among the travelers, they journeyed a day before searching for Him. It matters because it shows the parents' natural concern and the reality of the situation.
Overview
Mary and Joseph, supposing Jesus was somewhere in the large traveling company, went a day's journey before looking for Him among relatives. The detail reflects the customary group travel of pilgrims. Their growing concern sets up the search that leads back to the temple.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Isa 2:3Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go out, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem.
- Ps 122:1–4A Song of Ascents. By David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
- Ps 42:4These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 2:44 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.