In brief
Anna is a prophetess of the tribe of Asher, daughter of Phanuel, of whom the Gospel of Luke gives a short and luminous portrait. A widow after seven years of marriage, she is very advanced in age and never leaves the temple, where she serves God night and day with fasting and prayer. When Mary and Joseph present the child Jesus, she praises God and speaks of him to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
What does the name Anna the prophetess mean?
Anna is the English form of the Hebrew name generally linked to "grace" or "favor". It is the same as the name of Samuel's mother in the Old Testament. The Bible gives no direct explanation of this name for Anna the prophetess.
The story of Anna the prophetess
A prophetess of the tribe of Asher
Luke 2:36Luke presents Anna as a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She is very advanced in age. She lived with her husband seven years after her youth. The evangelist names the tribe and the father of this woman, as if to underline the importance of her witness.
A widow who does not leave the temple
Luke 2:37After her husband's death, Anna remains a widow. She does not leave the temple and serves God night and day, with fasting and prayer. Her life is turned toward the presence of God, with a faithfulness that has lasted many years, seeking no other place than that of prayer.
When Jesus is presented
Luke 2:22-38Joseph and Mary bring the child Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord. The old man Simeon takes him in his arms and blesses God. At that very moment, Anna comes up. She recognizes in this child the one Israel has been waiting for, in the midst of the crowd in the temple.
Praise and witness
Luke 2:38Anna begins to praise God. She speaks of the child to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. She thus becomes one of the first people to publicly announce who Jesus is. Her long wait finds its answer in the meeting with the Savior, and she does not keep it to herself.
What Anna the prophetess teaches us
- Faithfulness in prayer, even over many years, prepares the heart to recognize God when he acts.
- God uses elderly people, widows and quiet people, for his call does not depend on age or status.
- Fasting and prayer feed our waiting on God and sharpen our spiritual discernment.
- Once we have recognized Jesus, we are called to speak of him to those who are still waiting for an answer.
- Good waiting is active: Anna does not stay silent, she praises God and shares what she has seen.
Key verses
Luke presents Anna as a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. This emphasis on her genealogy underlines that the Holy Spirit also speaks through women in God's plan.
Anna does not leave the temple and serves God night and day with fasting and prayer. This verse describes a life wholly devoted to worship and to waiting on God.
Coming up at that very hour, Anna praises God and speaks of the child to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. She moves from waiting to announcing the good news.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Anna the prophetess in the Bible?
Anna is a prophetess of the tribe of Asher, daughter of Phanuel, presented in Luke 2. A very old widow, she serves God in the temple night and day, and recognizes the child Jesus when his parents present him to the Lord.
What does the name Anna mean?
Anna is the English form of a Hebrew name generally linked to "grace" or "favor". It is also the name of Samuel's mother in the Old Testament. For the prophetess of Luke 2, the Bible gives no explanation of the name.
Where can I find the story of Anna the prophetess in the Bible?
Her story fits in three verses of the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 2, verses 36 to 38. It is part of the account of the presentation of Jesus at the temple, where she also meets Simeon.