Luke 2:5 Meaning and Explanation
“To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joseph registers with Mary, who is pledged to him in marriage and near the time of her delivery.
What Does Luke 2:5 Mean?
Mary accompanies Joseph on the journey south, though her child is nearly due. Luke calls her his espoused wife, betrothed to Joseph in a bond as binding as marriage under the law, while the narrative has already made clear that the child she carries was conceived by the power of the Highest (Luke 1:35).
It is a costly obedience: a long road, a late pregnancy, a town where they hold no home. The couple entrusted with the Son of God receives no ease for the task. Yet Mary had said, Be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38), and this dusty road is what that surrender looks like. Faithfulness often travels in discomfort toward a promise not yet visible.
Luke 2:5 in the Original Language
mnesteuo (μνηστεύω), 'espoused' -- to be betrothed, legally pledged in marriage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 2:5
What does Luke 2:5 mean?
Joseph registers with Mary, who is pledged to him in marriage and near the time of her delivery.