Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Luke 2:49

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 49 But he said to them: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?”+

Luke 2:49

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 49 καὶ And εἶπεν he said πρὸς toward αὐτούς them Τί Why ὅτι that ἐζητεῖτέ YOU were seeking με; me? οὐκ Not ᾔδειτε had YOU known ὅτι that ἐν in τοῖς the (things) τοῦ of the πατρός Father μου of me δεῖ it is necessary εἶναί to be με; me?

Luke 2:49

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 49 But he said to them: “Why did YOU have to go looking for me? Did YOU not know that I must be in the [house] of my Father?”+

Luke 2:49

The Bible in Living English
- 49 And he said to them “How came it you were hunting for me? didn’t you know I must be at my Father’s?”

Luke 2:49

American Standard Version
- 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house?

Luke 2:49

The Emphasized Bible
- 49 And he said unto them—Why was it that ye were seeking me? Perceived ye not that in the courts of my Father I must needs be?

Luke 2:49

King James Version
- 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Luke Study Notes—Chapter 2

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 2:49
  
  he said to them: The words that follow are Jesus’ first words recorded in the Bible. As a young boy, Jesus was evidently not fully aware of his prehuman existence. (See study notes on Mt 3:16; Lu 3:21.) Yet, it seems reasonable that his mother and his adoptive father had passed on to him the information received during angelic visitations as well as through the prophecies of Simeon and Anna, spoken during the family’s trip to Jerusalem 40 days after Jesus’ birth. (Mt 1:20-25; 2:13, 14, 19-21; Lu 1:26-38; 2:8-38) Jesus’ reply indicates that he to some extent understood the miraculous nature of his birth and his special personal relationship with his heavenly Father, Jehovah.
  
  I must be in the house of my Father: The Greek expression for “in the house of my Father” is literally rendered “in the [things] of my Father.” The context shows that Joseph and Mary were concerned about Jesus’ whereabouts, so it is most natural to understand these words to refer to a location, or place, that is, “the house [or “dwelling; courts”] of my Father.” (Lu 2:44-46) Later, during his ministry, Jesus specifically referred to the temple as “the house of my Father.” (Joh 2:16) According to some scholars, though, this expression could also be understood more broadly as, “I need to be concerned [or, “busy”] with the things of my Father.”