Luke 2:36 (WEB)
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 2:36–37 (KJV)
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 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.
Key words
- προφῆτιςprophētis · Greek
- 'prophetess' — Anna (Hannah) is one of the few women given the title.
- οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦouk aphistato tou hierou · Greek
- 'departed not from the temple' — a life of consecrated devotion.
- νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσινnēsteiais kai deēsesin · Greek
- 'fastings and prayers' — ascetic worship night and day.
Why it matters
Anna, widowed young, has spent decades in the temple in fasting and prayer rather than remarrying. Pitre offers her as proof that consecrated celibacy existed within first-century Judaism and was honoured by Luke. A vowed virgin such as Mary would not have been unthinkable in that world.