Luke 2:47

KJV

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} all {G3956} that heard {G191} him {G846} were astonished {G1839} at {G1909} his {G846} understanding {G4907} and {G2532} answers {G612}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses.

Berean Standard Bible

And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

American Standard Version

and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 2:47 captures a singular moment in Jesus's youth, offering a rare glimpse into His early life and the profound nature of His divine wisdom. Discovered by His parents in the Temple, Jesus, at the age of twelve, engaged with the most learned religious teachers of His day, demonstrating an unparalleled depth of insight and clarity in His responses that left all who witnessed it utterly astonished. This event serves as a powerful testament to His unique identity and innate understanding of God's truth, far exceeding the capabilities of any ordinary child.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is nestled within the brief account of Jesus's childhood, specifically following the narrative of His family's annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. After three days of frantic searching, Mary and Joseph finally find Jesus in the Temple courts. [Luke 2:46](/luke/2-46 "Luke 2:46 - Jesus Found in the Temple") explicitly states that He was "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions." Luke 2:47 then describes the astonishing reaction of those present to His intellectual and spiritual prowess. The immediate verses that follow, [Luke 2:48-50](/luke/2-48-50 "Luke 2:48-50 - Mary's Reaction and Jesus's Reply"), detail Mary's bewildered question and Jesus's cryptic yet profound response about being in "My Father's house," further underscoring His unique filial relationship with God. This entire pericope culminates in [Luke 2:52](/luke/2-52 "Luke 2:52 - Jesus's Growth in Wisdom and Stature"), which summarizes Jesus's holistic development in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Jerusalem Temple during the Passover festival, a time when Jewish families would make pilgrimages to the holy city. At twelve years old, Jesus was on the cusp of becoming a "son of the commandment" (Bar Mitzvah), a significant rite of passage at age thirteen that marked a boy's transition into adult religious responsibility. Engaging with rabbis and scribes in the Temple was a common practice, but a twelve-year-old not only listening but actively questioning and providing answers that astonished seasoned scholars was highly unusual. These teachers were the intellectual and spiritual elite, deeply versed in the Mosaic Law and prophetic writings. Their astonishment signifies that Jesus's insights were not merely precocious but indicative of a wisdom that transcended human learning, challenging their established understanding and revealing a divine source.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme highlighted in [Luke 2:47](/luke/2-47 "Luke 2:47 - Jesus's Wisdom in the Temple") is the **Divine Wisdom and Understanding** of Jesus. Even at a young age, Jesus demonstrates an extraordinary intellectual and spiritual capacity that sets Him apart. His "understanding and answers" were not merely clever or learned, but revealed a divine insight that far surpassed typical human knowledge, foreshadowing His later ministry where His teachings would consistently [amaze crowds and silence opponents](/john/7-46 "John 7:46 - Officers Testify to Jesus's Speaking"). This scene also underscores the theme of **Astonishment and Recognition**. The fact that "all that heard him were astonished" is a powerful testament to Jesus's unique wisdom, especially coming from highly educated and experienced Temple teachers. This early, widespread recognition serves as a subtle, yet significant, affirmation of His identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. Finally, this event provides an **Early Revelation of Identity**, as Jesus, through His profound spiritual comprehension, begins to reveal His divine purpose and intrinsic connection to His Heavenly Father, even as His earthly parents were still grappling with the full implications of His unique nature, as seen in [Mary's reaction in Luke 2:48](/luke/2-48 "Luke 2:48 - Mary's Reaction to Jesus's Words").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **astonished (Greek, _exístēmi'_):** This verb, derived from *ek* (out of) and *hístēmi* (to stand), literally means "to put (stand) out of wits." It conveys a sense of being utterly amazed, overwhelmed, or even bewildered to the point of being beside oneself. It's a strong term indicating profound shock and wonder, suggesting that Jesus's words were not just impressive for a child, but truly remarkable and unexpected for anyone, regardless of age.
* **understanding (Greek, _sýnesis'_):** From *syníēmi* (to bring together, comprehend), this noun refers to a mental putting together, intelligence, or concrete intellect. It implies not merely the acquisition of facts or knowledge, but the ability to synthesize, connect disparate truths, and derive deep, coherent meaning. Jesus's *sýnesis* was not just rote memorization but a profound, integrated grasp of spiritual realities.
* **answers (Greek, _apókrisis'_):** This noun, derived from *apokrínomai* (to answer), refers to a response or reply. The plural form here suggests a series of insightful replies to the teachers' inquiries, indicating that Jesus was not just asking questions but also engaging in a substantive two-way intellectual and spiritual exchange, demonstrating His mastery of the subjects under discussion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all that heard him":** This phrase emphasizes the breadth of the impact. It includes not just the prominent Temple teachers whom Jesus was directly engaging, but likely also other pilgrims and observers who were present in the Temple courts. The collective nature of their response underscores the undeniable impact of Jesus's words.
* **"were astonished":** This is the immediate and overwhelming reaction of the audience. As detailed in the key word analysis, this is a strong term (Greek: *exístēmi*) signifying profound wonder and bewilderment, indicating that Jesus's insights were far beyond what they would expect from a twelve-year-old, or even from many adults.
* **"at his understanding":** This specifies the primary source of their astonishment. It was not merely His ability to speak or ask questions, but the depth and coherence of His comprehension of spiritual and theological matters. This "understanding" (Greek: *sýnesis*) points to an innate, divine insight rather than merely acquired knowledge.
* **"and answers":** This complements "understanding" by highlighting the practical manifestation of His profound insight. Jesus's responses to the teachers' questions were not just correct, but insightful, wise, and perhaps even revelatory, demonstrating His mastery and authority in spiritual discourse.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 2:47 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as this early display of wisdom anticipates Jesus's later public ministry where He would consistently teach with unparalleled authority and insight, confounding His opponents and amazing the crowds. The **Contrast** between Jesus's young age (twelve years old) and His profound wisdom is striking, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of His person. This is not merely a precocious child, but one whose understanding transcends human limitations. Furthermore, there is an element of **Divine Unveiling**, where a glimpse of Jesus's true, divine nature is revealed through His intellectual and spiritual capabilities, hinting at His identity as the Son of God, who embodies all wisdom. The astonishment of the teachers serves as a form of **Validation**, confirming the extraordinary nature of what they witnessed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 2:47 profoundly illustrates the unique nature of Jesus, even in His youth. It reveals that His wisdom was not merely the product of human learning or precocity, but an inherent, divine attribute. This early demonstration of profound understanding and insightful answers points to Jesus's pre-existence and His intrinsic connection to the Father, from whom all wisdom flows. It affirms His identity as the Christ, the one in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, and the one who perfectly embodies God's truth. This event serves as a foundational moment, setting the stage for His later public ministry where He would teach with unparalleled authority, demonstrating that He was indeed the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth.

* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - God Gives Wisdom")
* [Isaiah 11:2-3](/isaiah/11-2-3 "Isaiah 11:2-3 - Spirit of the Lord on the Messiah")
* [Colossians 2:2-3](/colossians/2-2-3 "Colossians 2:2-3 - Christ, in Whom Are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 2:47 offers a compelling invitation for believers to pursue wisdom and understanding that extends beyond mere intellectual acquisition. Jesus, even as a child, modeled an active, engaged pursuit of spiritual truth, not just passively receiving but thoughtfully questioning and profoundly answering. This challenges us to cultivate a similar hunger for God's Word and a desire for divine insight, recognizing that true wisdom ultimately originates from Him. It reminds us that spiritual growth is a holistic and lifelong journey, encompassing not only knowledge but also the ability to apply truth with discernment and grace. Just as Jesus "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" ([Luke 2:52](/luke/2-52 "Luke 2:52 - Jesus's Growth")), we too are called to mature in our understanding of God and His ways, allowing His truth to transform our minds and inform our responses in every area of life. This verse encourages us to engage deeply with spiritual truths, to listen attentively, question thoughtfully, and respond with wisdom rooted in God's revelation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you most need God's wisdom and understanding today?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for spiritual truth and engage more actively with God's Word, similar to the young Jesus?**
* **What does Jesus's early demonstration of wisdom teach us about the importance of spiritual formation from a young age?**

### FAQ
**Why were the teachers astonished by Jesus's understanding and answers?**

Answer: The teachers were astonished because Jesus, at only twelve years old, displayed a level of understanding and provided answers that far exceeded what could be expected from a child, or even from many adults. These were highly educated and experienced religious scholars, well-versed in the Law and the Prophets. Their astonishment (Greek: *exístēmi*, meaning "to be utterly amazed" or "to be out of oneself") indicates that Jesus's insights were not merely precocious but revealed an innate, divine wisdom that transcended human learning and challenged their established understanding. It was a clear sign of His unique identity and connection to God, as foreshadowed by His later teachings which consistently [amazed the crowds](/matthew/7-28-29 "Matthew 7:28-29 - Jesus's Authority in Teaching").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 2:47 serves as an early, yet profound, Christ-centered fulfillment, revealing the divine wisdom inherent in the Son of God. This childhood episode foreshadows Jesus's entire earthly ministry, where He would consistently speak with unparalleled authority and insight, demonstrating that He was indeed the embodiment of divine truth. He is the [Logos, the Word made flesh](/john/1-1-5 "John 1:1-5 - The Word Became Flesh"), through whom all things were created, and in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:2-3](/colossians/2-2-3 "Colossians 2:2-3 - Christ, the Mystery of God")). The astonishment of the Temple teachers in [Luke 2:47](/luke/2-47 "Luke 2:47 - Jesus's Wisdom in the Temple") prefigures the later reactions of crowds who declared, "Never has a man spoken like this man!" ([John 7:46](/john/7-46 "John 7:46 - Officers Testify to Jesus's Speaking")). Jesus is not merely wise; He is Wisdom personified, the very power and wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God")). This early glimpse into His divine intellect affirms that from His earliest days, Jesus was uniquely qualified to reveal the Father and to bring the ultimate truth and salvation to humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 7:28

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Psalms 119:99

I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.

Luke 4:32

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Mark 1:22

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

John 7:15

And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

John 7:46

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

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?