Luke 2:21
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
BIRTH OF CHRIST. (Luk 2:1-7) CÃ&brvbrsar Augustus--the first of the Roman emperors. all the world--so the vast Roman Empire was termed. taxed--enrolled, or register themselves.
Open source ↗Our Lord Jesus, being made of a woman, was made under the law, Gal 4:4. He was not only, as the son of a daughter of Adam, made under the law of nature, but as the son of a daughter of Abraham was made under the law of Moses; he put his neck under that yoke, though it was a heavy yoke, and a shadow of good things to come. Though its institutions were beggarly elements, and rudiments of this world, as the apostle calls them, Christ submitted to it, that he might with the better grace cancel it, and set it aside for us. Now here we have two instances of his being made under that law, and submitting to it. I. He was circumcised on the very day that the law appointed (Luk 2:21): When eight days were accomplished, that day seven-night that he was born, they circumcised him. 1. Though it was a painful operation (Surely a bloody husband thou has been, said Zipporah to Moses, because of the circumcision, Exo 4:25), yet Christ would undergo it for us; nay, therefore he submitted to it, to give an instance of his early obedience, his obedience unto blood. Then he shed his blood by drops, which afterwards he poured out in purple streams. 2. Though it supposed him a stranger, that was by that ceremony to be admitted into covenant with God, whereas he had always been his beloved Son; nay, though it supposed him a sinner, that needed to have his filthiness taken away, whereas he had no impurity or superfluity of naughtiness to be cut off, yet he submitted to it; nay, therefore he submitted to it, because he would be made in the likeness, not only of flesh, but of sinful flesh, Rom 8:3. 3. Though thereby he made himself a debtor to the whole law (Gal 5:3), yet he submitted to it; nay, therefore he submitted to it, because he would take upon him the form of a servant, though he was fre…
Open source ↗2:21 Eight days later . . . circumcised: See study note on 1:59.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.