Luke 2:36 (YLT)

Passage

And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,

Nearby Context

Luke 2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this <FI>one<Fi> is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against--

Luke 2:35 (and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) --that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'

Luke 2:36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,

Luke 2:37 and she <FI>is<Fi> a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

Luke 2:38 and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "anna", "prophetess", "daughter", "phanuel", "tribe", "asher", "much", and "advanced". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "anna" and "prophetess", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 35's "and also thine own soul shall a..." into verse 37's "and she FI is Fi a widow...", so "anna" and "prophetess" 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 "anna" and "prophetess" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.