Luke 2:36
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Original Language Analysis
Καὶ
And
G2532
Καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 23
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
θυγάτηρ
the daughter
G2364
θυγάτηρ
the daughter
Strong's:
G2364
Word #:
5 of 23
a female child, or (by hebraism) descendant (or inhabitant)
ἐκ
of
G1537
ἐκ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
7 of 23
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
αὕτη
G846
αὕτη
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 23
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
προβεβηκυῖα
G4260
προβεβηκυῖα
Strong's:
G4260
Word #:
11 of 23
to walk forward, i.e., advance (literally, or in years)
ἡμέραις
age
G2250
ἡμέραις
age
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
13 of 23
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
πολλαῖς
was of a great
G4183
πολλαῖς
was of a great
Strong's:
G4183
Word #:
14 of 23
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
μετὰ
with
G3326
μετὰ
with
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
17 of 23
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
20 of 23
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
Cross References
Acts 21:9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.Exodus 15:20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.Genesis 30:13And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.Revelation 7:6Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.Acts 2:18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:Psalms 92:14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;Job 5:26Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.1 Corinthians 12:1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2 Kings 22:14So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.Judges 4:4And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Historical Context
Female prophets in Israel included Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14). Anna's continuous temple presence was possible for widows with no family obligations. The Court of Women in Herod's temple provided space where devout women could pray and worship without entering restricted male courts.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Anna's decades-long faithfulness as a widow model perseverance in serving God through difficult life circumstances?
- What does God's inclusion of both a male prophet (Simeon) and female prophet (Anna) reveal about His valuing of women's testimony?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Anna, a prophetess (Ἄννα προφῆτις, Anna prophētis)—The feminine form prophētis appears only here and Revelation 2:20 in the NT, indicating a woman who spoke God's words. Her Hebrew name Hannah means 'grace,' fitting for one who announced Messiah.
The daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher—Luke's genealogical precision establishes authenticity. Asher, one of the northern tribes largely lost after Assyrian exile (722 BC), demonstrates God's preservation of remnant from all twelve tribes, contradicting the 'ten lost tribes' myth. She was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity—Brief marriage, likely in her teens, followed by decades-long widowhood, positions Anna as model of covenant faithfulness through life's sorrows.