Luke 2:4 (DRB)

Passage

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David.

Nearby Context

Luke 2:2 This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.

Luke 2:3 And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David.

Luke 2:5 To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

Luke 2:6 And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "joseph", "went", "galilee", "city", "nazareth", "judea", and "david". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "joseph", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "And all went to be enrolled every..." into verse 5's "To be enrolled with Mary his espoused...", so "called" and "joseph" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "joseph" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.