Luke 2:33 - Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,

Generated Verse: Luke 2:33

What does "Luke 2:33" mean?


Luke 2:33, "And his father and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him," refers to the reaction of Joseph and Mary after Simeon, a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem, blessed them and prophesied about Jesus. Let's break down what this verse means:

"Joseph and his mother": This is significant because it identifies both Jesus' earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, as being present and observing the events. While Joseph is not Jesus' biological father, he is recognized as his legal father and plays an important role in Jesus' life.

"were marveling": The word "marveling" implies a sense of wonder, astonishment, and awe. They were struck by the profound and unexpected nature of what they were hearing. It wasn't just polite agreement, but a deep-seated sense of surprise and reverence.

"at the things which were spoken concerning him": This refers to the prophecies and blessings that Simeon spoke over Jesus. In the preceding verses (Luke 2:29-32), Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah, a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. He acknowledged that Jesus was the fulfillment of long-awaited promises. In the subsequent verse (Luke 2:34-35), Simeon also prophesied that Jesus would be a cause of rising and falling in Israel and that Mary herself would experience deep sorrow.

In essence, the verse means that Joseph and Mary were filled with a sense of wonder and amazement at the divine significance being attributed to their son Jesus. They were both humbled and awestruck by the recognition of Jesus' unique role in God's plan of salvation.

Here's what they likely marveled at:

The recognition of Jesus as the Messiah: Simeon's words confirmed that Jesus was the promised one they had heard about.
The scope of Jesus' mission: Simeon's prophecy indicated that Jesus' impact would extend beyond Israel to the Gentiles.
The implications for their own lives: Simeon's words also hinted at the future difficulties and challenges that Jesus (and Mary) would face.

This verse sets the stage for the next part of the narrative, where Simeon's prophecy foreshadows the challenging and impactful life that Jesus would lead. It also highlights the importance of Mary's role as the mother of the Messiah and foreshadows the pain she will endure.

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