Luke 2:33

Luke 2:33

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

a. NLT: Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.

b. NIV: The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

c. Amplified Bible: And His [legal] father and [His] mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

d. Young’s Literal Translation: And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him,

e. Worrell Translation: And His father and mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning Him.

1. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

a. And [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. Joseph [2501 * loseph] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3130); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites:--Joseph.]

1). The NLT, the NIV, the Worrell Translation of the translations I have listed as well as the ASV, NASB, & RSV all take Joseph out and put “father” in. As one writer put it, This verse is a doctrinal statement about the Virgin Birth. According to all the major translations except the KJV, a doctor speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost is calling Joseph the father of Jesus.

2). The reason for the differences in translation is because of the differences in manuscripts. That being said, those who have delved into the study of textual criticism (which I have a little bit), or who have studied New Testament Greek (which I have not), are familiar with the arguments over the preferences of manuscripts. Personally, I generally prefer the King James Version and the text that backs it up, the Textus Receptus or the Received Text. There are exceptions, but this is not one of them. If you took the time (which I have in the past but will not now), to look at the Greek text from which all the translations that say “father” instead of “Joseph” you would not find the Greek word for “Joseph”, you would instead find the Greek word for “father”. This is because the text that supports those translations has it in the Greek text. Why wouldn’t the Holy Ghost lead Luke to write that Joseph was the father of Jesus? Because in the same chapter, Mary also calls Joseph the father of Jesus, and Jesus corrects her.

a). Luke 2:48, 49 [KJV]  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

3). The reading “father and mother” is from Vaticanus (350-370 A.D.) The reading “Joseph and his mother” (KJV) is found in Tatian’s Diatesseron (170 A.D.) The evidence is enough for me to accept the KJV over the other translations.

c. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. mother [3384 * meter] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.]

f. were [2258 * en] [Strong:  imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.]

g. marveled [2296 * thaumazo] [Strong: from 2295; to wonder; by implication, to admire:--admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder.]

h. at [1909 * epi] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

i. things which were spoken [2980 * laleo] [Strong: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

j. of [4012 * peri] [Strong: from the base of 4008; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).]

k. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]