Luke 2:4
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
3 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
5 of 28
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Γαλιλαίας
Galilee
G1056
Γαλιλαίας
Galilee
Strong's:
G1056
Word #:
7 of 28
galilaea (i.e., the heathen circle), a region of palestine
ἐξ
of
G1537
ἐξ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
8 of 28
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
πόλιν
the city
G4172
πόλιν
the city
Strong's:
G4172
Word #:
9 of 28
a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
11 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰουδαίαν
Judaea
G2449
Ἰουδαίαν
Judaea
Strong's:
G2449
Word #:
13 of 28
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
14 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
πόλιν
the city
G4172
πόλιν
the city
Strong's:
G4172
Word #:
15 of 28
a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
καλεῖται
is called
G2564
καλεῖται
is called
Strong's:
G2564
Word #:
18 of 28
to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
Βηθλέεμ
Bethlehem
G965
Βηθλέεμ
Bethlehem
Strong's:
G965
Word #:
19 of 28
bethleem (i.e., beth-lechem), a place in palestine
διὰ
(because
G1223
διὰ
(because
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
20 of 28
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτὸν
G846
αὐτὸν
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
23 of 28
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
ἐξ
of
G1537
ἐξ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
24 of 28
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
οἴκου
the house
G3624
οἴκου
the house
Strong's:
G3624
Word #:
25 of 28
a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
26 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Micah 5:2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.John 7:42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?1 Samuel 16:1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.Matthew 2:23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Historical Context
Bethlehem, David's birthplace, was the prophesied location of Messiah's birth (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary's residence in Nazareth seemed to conflict with prophecy, yet God used Roman census to bring them to Bethlehem at precisely the right time. This demonstrates God's meticulous orchestration of history.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God use circumstances to position people where they need to be?
- Why is Jesus's connection to David through both legal and biological lines significant?
- What does Joseph's obedience to difficult governmental requirements teach about submission to authority?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Joseph going 'from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem' emphasizes the geographic movement necessary to fulfill prophecy. The phrase 'because he was of the house and lineage of David' explains both why Joseph went to Bethlehem and Jesus's legal right to David's throne. That Jesus's adoptive father descends from David establishes messianic credentials through legal lineage, while Matthew's genealogy traces Mary's biological descent. God's providence arranged that both Mary's biological and Joseph's legal lines descend from David. The approximately 80-mile journey, difficult for pregnant Mary, demonstrates obedience to governmental authority and divine providence.