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:)

And {G1161} Joseph {G2501} also {G2532} went up {G305} from {G575} Galilee {G1056}, out of {G1537} the city {G4172} of Nazareth {G3478}, into {G1519} Judaea {G2449}, unto {G1519} the city {G4172} of David {G1138}, which {G3748} is called {G2564} Bethlehem {G965};(because {G1223} he {G846} was {G1511} of {G1537} the house {G3624} and {G2532} lineage {G3965} of David {G1138}:)

So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y'hudah,

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

Luke 2:4 describes the pivotal journey of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, from his hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David. This seemingly mundane journey, undertaken for a Roman census, was in fact a divinely orchestrated step in the fulfillment of ancient prophecy concerning the Messiah's birth.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse immediately follows the decree from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken throughout the Roman world (Luke 2:1). For this census, individuals were required to register in their ancestral cities. Joseph, being "of the house and lineage of David," had to travel to Bethlehem, David's birthplace. This explains why Mary, though heavily pregnant, accompanied him on the arduous journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judaea. The phrase "went up" accurately reflects the significant elevation gain and the geographical journey from the lower region of Galilee to the higher Judean hills, where Jerusalem and Bethlehem are located.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Orchestration: The census, a decree by a pagan emperor, became an instrument in God's hands to ensure Jesus' birth occurred in the prophesied location. This highlights God's sovereignty over human affairs and political powers.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Joseph's Davidic lineage and the necessity of his travel to Bethlehem directly fulfill the prophecy in Micah 5:2, which declared that the ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah.
  • Messianic Identity: The emphasis on Joseph being "of the house and lineage of David" is crucial. It underscores Jesus' legal claim to the throne of David through Joseph, aligning with numerous Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would be a descendant of David (e.g., Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5). This lineage is also highlighted in the opening of Matthew's Gospel and affirmed by Paul in Romans 1:3.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "house and lineage" translates Greek words that emphasize both the family unit (oikos) and the ancestral descent or genealogy (patria). This reinforces the deep and direct connection Joseph had to King David, making it clear that his presence in Bethlehem was not accidental but rooted in his ancestral identity, which was providentially significant for the Messiah's birth.

Practical Application

Luke 2:4 reminds us that God's plans are meticulously detailed and often unfold through ordinary human events. Even governmental decrees or personal obligations can be used by God to bring about His perfect will. For believers today, this verse offers assurance that God is sovereign over all circumstances, guiding events to accomplish His redemptive purposes, even when we don't understand the immediate reasons for our journeys or challenges.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Micah 5:2

    But thou, Bethlehem 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 7:42

    Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

  • 1 Samuel 16:1

    ¶ And 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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

  • Luke 1:26

    ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

  • Luke 1:27

    To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.

  • 1 Samuel 20:6

    If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked [leave] of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

  • Matthew 2:23

    And 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.

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