2:23

This verse provides background information. Several English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, indicate this by putting the verse in parentheses. You should indicate that this is background information in a way that is natural in your language.

2:23a

as it is written: Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord, as the Lord’s law said that they must do. The law said that each firstborn son must belong to the Lord.

This refers to the law recorded in Exodus 13:2, 13:12–13, 13:15.

the Law of the Lord: The term the Law of the Lord refers to the same Law as “the Law of Moses” in 2:22a. The Bible uses both terms to refer to the Law that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses.

Some other ways to say the Law of the Lord are:

the Lord’s law
-or-
God’s law
-or-
the law that the Lord gave ⌊to the Israelites⌋

2:23b

firstborn male: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as firstborn male is literally “male opening a womb” (compare the Revised Standard Version). This refers to a baby boy who is the first child that a mother has.

shall be consecrated to the Lord: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shall be consecrated to the Lord is literally “shall be called holy to the Lord” (as in the Revised Standard Version). In this context, the form of the verb “shall be called” functions as a type of command. It means “he must/should be called holy to the Lord.”

In this context, the phrase “called holy” means that he must actually be holy, that is, he must be consecrated to the Lord. It does not mean that someone will call or name the baby “holy to the Lord.” Some ways to translate the phrase shall be consecrated to the Lord are:

must be consecrated to the Lord (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
is to be dedicated to the Lord. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Consecrate to the Lord…

consecrated: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as consecrated is literally “holy.” Here it indicates that firstborn Israelite boys belonged to God for his service. Other ways to express this are:

set apart for
-or-
belong to

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