Luke 2:5 (KJV)

What does Luke 2:5 mean?

Luke 2:5 describes Joseph traveling with Mary, who was engaged to him and very pregnant, so they could both be registered for the census ordered by the Roman authorities. The verse highlights that Mary was expecting a child as they made this journey together.

This verse is part of the story where Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem because of a government decree requiring everyone to be counted in their ancestral hometown. Luke, the author, is explaining the circumstances that led to Jesus being born in Bethlehem. The mention that Mary was "great with child" sets the stage for the birth of Jesus, which happens soon after their arrival.

The Greek behind Luke 2:5

• "taxed" (ἀπογράφεσθαι, apographesthai): This Greek word means to be registered or enrolled, usually for a census or taxation. The focus is on official registration, not just paying taxes.
• "espoused" (μεμνηστευμένην, memnēsteumenēn): This word means betrothed or engaged, indicating that Mary and Joseph were formally promised to each other but not yet fully married in the usual sense.
• "wife" (γυναῖκα, gynaika): This term means woman or wife. Here, it emphasizes Mary's relationship to Joseph as his intended spouse, even though they had not yet completed the final marriage steps.
• "being great with child" (ἐγκύῳ, enkyō): This phrase means pregnant, with the sense that Mary was far along in her pregnancy, making the journey especially challenging.

Why Luke 2:5 matters

• Luke 2:5 clarifies that Mary and Joseph were not yet fully married but were legally pledged to each other, which is important for understanding the social context and the unusual circumstances of Jesus’s birth.
• The verse underscores the hardship and timing of their journey, showing that Mary was close to giving birth as they traveled, which sets up the narrative for Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem.
• By mentioning the census, Luke ties the birth of Jesus to a specific historical event, grounding the story in real-world circumstances and fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah’s birthplace.