Luke 2:45 (YLT)

Passage

and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.

Nearby Context

Luke 2:43 and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know,

Luke 2:44 and, having supposed him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and were seeking him among the kindred and among the acquaintances,

Luke 2:45 and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them,

Luke 2:47 and all those hearing him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "having", "found", "turned", "back", "jerusalem", and "seeking". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "having" and "found", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 44's "and having supposed him to be in..." into verse 46's "And it came to pass after three...", so "having" and "found" 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 "having" and "found" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.