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Luke 2:3

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 2:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
Luke 2:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And all went to be taxed, etc.] Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Syria; men, women, and children; every one into his own city; where he was born, and had any estate, and to which he belonged.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“went . . . to his own city--the city of his extraction, according to the Jewish custom, not of his abode, which was the usual Roman method.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:3-4 Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he returned to David’s hometown of Bethlehem (1 Sam 17:12, 58; 20:6), a tiny village in Judea five miles south of Jerusalem, where Mic 5:2 predicted that the Messiah would be born.”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 2 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification