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Selected Verse: Luke 2:37 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Lu 2:37 |
King James |
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| departed not from the temple--was found there at all stated hours of the day, and even during the night services of the temple watchmen (Psa 134:1-2), "serving God with fastings and prayer." (See Ti1 5:5, suggested by this.) |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years - That is, she was about 84 years of age. It does not mean that she had been a widow for that long time.
Fastings and prayers - Constant religious service. pending her time in prayer, and in all the ordinances of religion.
Night and day - Continually - that is, at the usual times of public worship and in private. When it is said that she departed not from the temple, it is meant that she was "constant" and "regular" in all the public services at the temple, or was never absent from those services. God blesses those who wait at his temple gates. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Of about fourscore and four years (ὡς ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων)
The A. V. might be supposed to be stating her age; but the best texts read ἕως, until, instead of ὡς about; and the statement refers to the time of her widowhood; a widow even for (or up to) fourscore and four years. So Rev.
Served (λατρεύουσα)
The present participle, serving. Rev., worshipping. See on Luk 1:74. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Fourscore and four years - These were the years of her life, not her widowhood only. Who departed not from the temple - Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer. But served God with fastings and prayers - Even at that age. Night and day - That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, as well as of the day. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Departed not from the temple - Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon. See Act 2:15; Act 3:1. It does not appear that women had any other functions to perform in that holy place.
With fastings - She accompanied her devotion with frequent fastings, probably not oftener than twice in the week; for this was the custom of the most rigid Pharisees: see Luk 18:12. |
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
1 A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.