Anna, a prophetess, wasn't just "old"—she'd been married for only seven years before becoming a widow, implying a remarkably long life of devotion after her brief marriage. This emphasizes that her "prophetess" status wasn't just due to age or experience, but a calling she pursued with intensity throughout her life, even into her eighties.
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just moments after Simeon declared Jesus the hope of Israel, the narrative introduces Anna, a devout prophetess from the tribe of Asher. Though her tribe was long scattered, she maintained her lineage and, having been married only seven years in her youth, had lived as a widow for many decades. Now an elderly woman, she faithfully worshiped at the temple, embodying the persistent expectation of redemption for all who, like her, looked for it.
Anna is called a prophetess, but what did that really mean in her day? It might surprise you to learn it wasn't just about predicting the future.
While some prophets did foretell events, the role of a prophet in the Old Testament and its continuation in Luke's time often involved much more.
Speaking for God
A prophet was essentially someone who spoke God's message. This could include:
Anna, by proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah to all who were looking for redemption, was fulfilling this broader prophetic role. She was a mouthpiece for God's redemptive plan unfolding right before her eyes.
Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher, one of the 'lost' ten tribes. What does this tell us about God's faithfulness, even when people seem forgotten?
The mention of Anna being 'of the tribe of Asher' is more than just a genealogical note. It's a powerful reminder of God's enduring covenant and His people.
Preserving Identity
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Though the northern kingdom of Israel (comprising the ten tribes) had been conquered and scattered centuries earlier, many families still preserved their lineage. Anna's family was one of them.
God's Unfolding Plan
This shows that God's promises weren't forgotten, even in exile. Individuals, like Anna and her family, maintained their identity and continued to look for the promised redemption. It underscores that God's people, though scattered or seemingly lost, remain in His memory and in His plan for salvation.
Anna was 'advanced in years' and a widow. Yet, she wasn't retired from faith; she was deeply engaged in worshipping God.
Anna's advanced age and widowhood, described in the text, paint a picture not of someone sidelined, but of someone intensely devoted.
A Life Dedicated to Waiting
She had been married for only seven years and then lived as a widow for many more. While her exact age isn't stated, commentators suggest she was around 84. Despite this long period of widowhood, she didn't withdraw from spiritual life. Instead, she 'worshiped God with fastings and prayers night and day.'
Present in God's House
She 'did not leave the temple.' This doesn't necessarily mean she lived inside it (as only priests and Levites did), but rather that she was a constant presence there, attending at the hours of prayer.
Her life demonstrates that age and circumstance do not have to diminish one's passionate pursuit of God. Rather, they can become the very backdrop for a profound and sustained devotion.
Understand the original words
prophētis · Greek Noun
A woman who speaks or interprets divine revelation, serving as a spokesperson for God to His people. In the New Testament, this role involves announcing the fulfillment of God's promises.
chēra · Greek Noun
A state of mourning and life circumstance for a woman whose husband has died. In Scripture, God shows special concern for widows, calling His people to provide them with protection and care.
hieron · Greek Noun
The religious center of Israel where God’s presence dwelt. It functioned as the designated place for sacrifice, prayer, and communal worship, symbolizing the meeting point between God and His people.
nēsteiais · Greek Noun
A voluntary practice of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes, often accompanied by prayer, to focus exclusively on seeking God, repenting, or petitioning Him.
lytrōsis · Greek Noun
The deliverance of God’s people from bondage, sin, or judgment. In the Old Testament, it refers to deliverance from physical captivity; in the New Testament, it refers to the spiritual liberation through Christ.
Anna's story unfolds against the backdrop of Israel's divided history and foreign oppressions. Belonging to the 'lost' tribe of Asher, her continued devotion and recognition of Jesus highlight God's faithfulness in restoring His people, even from dispersed and forgotten lineages.
c. 733 BC
Assyrian Exile of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel (the ten tribes), deporting many of its people. While the kingdom ceased to exist, some families, like Anna's presumed ancestors from the tribe of Asher, maintained their lineage and identity.
c. 701 BC
Hezekiah's Passover Celebration
King Hezekiah of Judah invites people from the former northern kingdom, including remnants of the ten tribes, to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. This event encouraged religious revival and may have reconnected some families with Jerusalem.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army attacks Jerusalem, beginning the exile of Judeans. While the focus was on Judah, this marks a period of increasing geopolitical instability leading up to the temple's destruction.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians completely destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, intensifying the exile. This event deepens the sense of loss and longing for divine intervention and restoration among the Jewish people.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows the exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period, a time of rebuilding and renewed religious focus.
Early 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
Judea is under Roman occupation, with varying degrees of autonomy. This period is marked by political tension and a deep longing among many Jews for the promised Messiah to deliver them.
c. AD 2-3— this verse
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Mary and Joseph bring the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem according to Jewish law. Here, they encounter Simeon and Anna, both devout individuals eagerly awaiting the promised redemption.
This passage introduces Deborah, another prominent prophetess in Israel's history, showing that Anna wasn't an isolated case but part of a recognized line of women used by God to speak His word.
1 Samuel 2:1-10Hannah's prayer of praise after the birth of Samuel shares a spirit of deep anticipation for God's salvation, mirroring Anna's own joyful recognition of the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1-5This prophecy describes the righteous character of the coming Messiah, whom Anna, like Simeon, eagerly recognized and spoke about to those who also awaited redemption.
Acts 21:9This verse mentions Philip's four daughters who prophesied, demonstrating that the gift of prophecy among women continued into the New Testament era, paralleling Anna's role.
pulpitLuke 2:36: "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;"
Verses 36-38. - Greeting of Anna the prophetess. Verse 36. - There was one Anna, a prophetess. The name of this holy woman is the same as that of the mother of Samuel. It is not necessary to assume that this Anna had the gift of foretelling future events. She was, at all events, a preacher. These saintly, gifted w…
bengelLuke 2:36: "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;"
Luke 2:36 . Φανουὴλ , Phanuel ) The father of Anna is named, rather than her husband. He was as yet known as one who looked for redemption : Luke 2:38 .— Ἀσὴρ , Aser ) See 2 Chronicles 30:11 .
Anna, a prophetess, wasn't just "old"—she'd been married for only seven years before becoming a widow, implying a remarkably long life of devotion after her brief marriage. This emphasizes that her "prophetess" status wasn't just due to age or experience, but a calling she pursued with intensity throughout her life, even into her eighties.
Just moments after Simeon declared Jesus the hope of Israel, the narrative introduces Anna, a devout prophetess from the tribe of Asher. Though her tribe was long scattered, she maintained her lineage and, having been married only seven years in her youth, had lived as a widow for many decades. Now an elderly woman, she faithfully worshiped at the temple, embodying the persistent expectation of redemption for all who, like her, looked for it.
Just moments after Simeon declared Jesus the hope of Israel, the narrative introduces Anna, a devout prophetess from the tribe of Asher. Though her tribe was long scattered, she maintained her lineage and, having been married only seven years in her youth, had lived as a widow for many decades. Now an elderly woman, she faithfully worshiped at the temple, embodying the persistent expectation of redemption for all who, like her, looked for it.
"And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not d…" — Anna, a prophetess, wasn't just "old"—she'd been married for only seven years before becoming a widow, implying a remarkably long life of devotion after her brief marriage. This emphasizes that her "…
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Last reviewed October 2026
