Anna

the one who never left the Temple

Who was Anna?

She was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Luke 2:36
She was a widow and never left the Temple: she served God night and day with fasting and prayer. Luke 2:37
When Jesus was presented in the Temple, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to everyone. Luke 2:38

The name: It comes from Hebrew and means “grace.” Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Anna”
Occupation: Prophetess Luke 2:36

What the Bible says

Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

Luke 2:37

And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

Luke 2:38

Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Anna

Before Jesus. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 2:36
Before Jesus. She married young and lived seven years with her husband. Luke 2:36
Before Jesus. Then she was left a widow. Luke says she had reached the age of eighty-four. Luke 2:37
Before Jesus. She never left the Temple: she served God night and day with fasting and prayer. Luke 2:37
With Jesus. One day, Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as the law of Moses required. Luke 2:22-23
With Jesus. She came forward at the very moment Simeon was holding the child Jesus in his arms. Luke 2:28, 38
Afterward. She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel. Luke 2:38
Afterward. When they had done everything the Law required, Mary and Joseph returned with the child to Nazareth, in Galilee. Luke 2:39
Afterward. There the child grew, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40

Words of Anna

Luke tells us she spoke about the child to everyone, but he does not record her words.

What they were like

Faithful: she never left the Temple. Luke 2:37
She prayed and fasted night and day. Luke 2:37
When she saw the child, she praised God and spoke about him to others. Luke 2:38

The greatest thing they did

She spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel. Luke 2:38
Luke calls her a prophetess: she spoke on behalf of God. Luke 2:36

Not to be confused with

Hannah: Hannah, the mother of Samuel, lived many centuries earlier. She asked God for a son and dedicated him to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:20, 27-28
The Bible does not give the name of Mary’s mother. “Anne” is the name Tradition gives her. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Anna”

What people ask

What is a prophetess?

A woman who speaks on behalf of God. The Bible names others, like Miriam and Deborah. Luke 2:36; Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4

How old was Anna?

The Torres Amat Bible and the NAB understand that she had been a widow until the age of eighty-four. Luke 2:37

Did she live in the Temple?

Luke says she never left the Temple and that she served God there night and day. Luke 2:37

Is she the same Anne as the mother of the Virgin Mary?

No. Mary’s mother does not appear in the Bible; Tradition calls her Anne. This Anna is the prophetess of the Temple. Luke 2:36; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Anna”

Who was Simeon, the man who was with Anna?

A righteous man of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, the one sent by God. Luke 2:25-26

What does “the redemption of Israel” mean?

That God would come to rescue his people. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, praised God because he had visited and redeemed his people. Luke 2:38; Luke 1:67-68

Little known Her father’s name was Phanuel, and she was of the tribe of Asher. Luke 2:36 She was married for only seven years. Luke 2:36 Luke gives more details…

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Who Anna is connected to

Simeon · at that very hour
Jesus · spoke about him to all

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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