King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yeshua was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. It was supposed that he was a son of Yosef who was of Eli,
Berean Standard Bible:
Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
American Standard Version:
And Jesus himself, when he beganto teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} Jesus{G2424} himself{G846} began{G756} to be{G2258} about{G5616} thirty{G5144} years of age{G2094}, being{G5607}(as{G5613} was supposed{G3543}) the son{G5207} of Joseph{G2501}, which was the son of Heli{G2242},
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 13:55
- Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Numbers 4:3
- From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Matthew 4:17
- From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Acts 1:1
- ¶ The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Genesis 41:46
- ¶ And Joseph [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Luke 4:22
- And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
Matthew 1:16
- And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Luke 3:23
Luke 3:23 is a verse that occurs within the genealogy of Jesus presented in the Gospel of Luke. This verse specifically addresses the age of Jesus at the commencement of his ministry, stating that he was about thirty years old. This detail aligns with the cultural and historical context of the time, as thirty was considered the age of maturity and full manhood in Jewish tradition, when a man could take on significant public responsibilities. The mention of Jesus being "as was supposed, the son of Joseph" reflects the belief held by the people of that era that Jesus was the biological son of Joseph, which is contrasted by the Christian belief in the virgin birth.
The genealogy provided by Luke traces Jesus' ancestry through Joseph back to Heli, which is noteworthy because it diverges from the genealogy in Matthew's Gospel, which traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph to Abraham, but via a different line of ancestors. This has led to various theological interpretations, including the possibility that Luke's genealogy might be tracing Mary's lineage instead, with Heli being her father, or that it reflects a levirate marriage situation where legal lineage could be traced through a non-biological father.
The historical context of this verse is set against the backdrop of Roman-occupied Judea, where there was significant messianic expectation among the Jewish people. By establishing Jesus' age and lineage, the Gospel writer is affirming Jesus' legitimacy as a potential Messiah within the cultural and scriptural expectations of the time, while also subtly introducing the idea that Jesus' true paternity is divine, being the Son of God. This verse serves to ground Jesus within a historical and familial context, while also preparing the reader for the unique and divine nature of his ministry that is to unfold.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G756
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄρχομαι
Transliteration: árchomai
Pronunciation: ar'-khom-ahee
Description: middle voice of ἄρχω (through the implication, of precedence); to commence (in order of time):--(rehearse from the) begin(-ning). - Strong's Number: G2258
There are 416 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἦν
Transliteration: ēn
Pronunciation: ane
Description: imperfect of εἰμί; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were. - Strong's Number: G5616
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὡσεί
Transliteration: hōseí
Pronunciation: ho-si'
Description: from ὡς and εἰ; as if:--about, as (it had been, it were), like (as). - Strong's Number: G5144
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τριάκοντα
Transliteration: triákonta
Pronunciation: tree-ak'-on-tah
Description: the decade of τρεῖς; thirty:--thirty. - Strong's Number: G2094
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔτος
Transliteration: étos
Pronunciation: et'-os
Description: apparently a primary word; a year:--year. - Strong's Number: G5607
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὤν
Transliteration: ṓn
Pronunciation: on
Description: present participle of εἰμί; being:--be, come, have. - Strong's Number: G5613
There are 433 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὡς
Transliteration: hōs
Pronunciation: hoce
Description: probably adverb of comparative from ὅς; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed. - Strong's Number: G3543
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νομίζω
Transliteration: nomízō
Pronunciation: nom-id'-zo
Description: from νόμος; properly, to do by law (usage), i.e. to accustom (passively, be usual); by extension, to deem or regard:-- suppose, thing, be wont. - Strong's Number: G5207
There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: υἱός
Transliteration: huiós
Pronunciation: hwee-os'
Description: apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son. - Strong's Number: G2501
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰωσήφ
Transliteration: Iōsḗph
Pronunciation: ee-o-safe'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יוֹסֵף); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites:--Joseph. - Strong's Number: G2242
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἡλί
Transliteration: Hēlí
Pronunciation: hay-lee'
Description: of Hebrew origin (עֵלִי); Heli (i.e. Eli), an Israelite:--Heli.