Luke 2:3 (GNV)

Passage

Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

Nearby Context

Luke 2:1 And it came to passe in those dayes, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.

Luke 2:2 (This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)

Luke 2:3 Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

Luke 2:4 And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house and linage of Dauid,)

Luke 2:5 To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "went", "taxed", "euery", "owne", and "citie". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "This first taxing was made when Cyrenius..." into verse 4's "And Ioseph also went vp from Galile...", so "therefore" and "went" 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 "therefore" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.