Luke 2:37
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
American Standard Version (ASV)
and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
She had been a widow for eighty-four years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and going without food, night and day.
Webster's Revision
And she was a widow of about eighty four years, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
World English Bible
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
English Revised Version (ERV)
and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
Definitions for Luke 2:37
Clarke's Luke 2:37 Bible Commentary
Departed not from the temple - Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon. See Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1. It does not appear that women had any other functions to perform in that holy place.
With fastings - She accompanied her devotion with frequent fastings, probably not oftener than twice in the week; for this was the custom of the most rigid Pharisees: see Luke 18:12.
Barnes's Luke 2:37 Bible Commentary
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years - That is, she was about 84 years of age. It does not mean that she had been a widow for that long time.
Fastings and prayers - Constant religious service. pending her time in prayer, and in all the ordinances of religion.
Night and day - Continually - that is, at the usual times of public worship and in private. When it is said that she departed not from the temple, it is meant that she was "constant" and "regular" in all the public services at the temple, or was never absent from those services. God blesses those who wait at his temple gates.
Wesley's Luke 2:37 Bible Commentary
2:37 Fourscore and four years - These were the years of her life, not her widowhood only. Who departed not from the temple - Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer. But served God with fastings and prayers - Even at that age. Night and day - That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, aswell as of the day.