Ladies Bible Study: A Glimpse of Anna ... Lesson 2

A Glimpse of Anna ... (Lesson 2)

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Last week we looked at the background in this study and this week we're going to begin the task of taking the two verses we have about Anna apart.  When we slow down and really look at what Scripture says, we get a better idea of the meaning ... and that always helps in our understanding, doesn't it?

Luke 2: 36-38  (NASB)

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years and lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.  She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The first 5 words in verse 36 say … and there was a prophetess

The first thing we learn about Anna from this passage of Scriptures is that she was a prophetess.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary says that a prophetess is a female prophet.  It also says that a prophet is a person who spoke for God and who communicated God’s message courageously to God’s Chosen People – the nation of Israel.

Let’s talk about Anna’s role as a prophetess.  When we apply the above definition of a prophet/ prophetess to Anna, we find that she would have been a female prophet who spoke for and about God.  But how did she do that?  Was her role like that of any of the male prophets?

Rarely did God speak to His people through women and nowhere in Scriptures do we find that a woman had any kind of ongoing public prophetic ministry.  With that being said let’s look at Luke 2:36 again. It clearly states that Anna was a prophetess.  What did her role as a prophetess look like?  Taking all of what Scripture tells us about women’s role into consideration, we can see that Anna’s prophesying was likely done on a personal level, day in and day out, reaching out and talking with those whom she came into contact with about the coming Messiah.  She was a gifted teacher to other women and a faithful encourager of her fellow worshipers in the temple. 

Do we make an effort to encourage others we come into contact with on a regular basis, like Anna did?

Do we make an effort to share what we know about Jesus with others, like Anna did?

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says :   (Regarding Anna, A prophetess)  Perhaps no more is meant than that she was one who had understanding in the scriptures above other women, and made it her business to instruct the younger women in the things of God.

In your Bible, underline the word ‘prophetess’ and draw an arrow out to the margin and write ‘mouthpiece for God.’

Anna lived her life solely for the Lord.  One can safely assume that she spent quite a bit of time, maybe the most part of her widowhood, studying the Old Testament and looking for its fulfillment in the coming Messiah.  When one saturates themselves in God’s Word on a regular basis, it pours out in most of their conversations.  This was most likely the case with Anna.  God’s Word and the coming Messiah were clearly what occupied her mind and conversation and as we all know what occupies our mind and heart is usually what comes out of our mouths. 

Are we diligent students of God's Word, like Anna was?

Does sharing about Jesus come naturally to us, like it did to Anna?

Anna sharing what she learned from studying the Scriptures was a form of ‘speaking for God’ and ‘communicating God’s message to God’s chosen people.’ 

But was there more to Anna’s prophesizing? Did God speak directly to Anna or did He only speak to her through His Word which at the time was the Old Testament? 

We'll talk more about that in a future lesson.

In closing, I want to give you a list of other female prophetess to consider.  Each one of these would make an interesting study in and of itself, wouldn't it?

 Miriam, the sister of Moses  (Exodus 15:20)

 Deborah (Judges 4:4)

 Philip’s Four Virgin Daughters (Acts 21:9) 

 Noadiah, it seems that this woman was trying to stand in Nehemiah’s way (Nehemiah 6:14) 

 Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) 

 Jezebel, a false prophetess (Rev. 2:20) 

 Isaiah's wife, it seems that Isaiah considered his wife a prophetess whether it was by association, wives of prophets were often referred to as prophetess, or if she too spoke of God to others, the Scriptures do not tell us. (Isa. 8:3).

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I love reading your comments, so don't be shy!

I'll meet you back here next Thursday for lesson 3.  

May you be blessed by this study!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Study: A Glimpse of Anna ... Lesson 1

A Glimpse of Anna

Background  (Lesson 1)

By Patsy Norwood © 2026.  All rights reserved.  Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited.  Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved.  This Bible study is written for women.

Luke 2: 36-38  (NASB)

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years and lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.  She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

In order to get a better understanding of the account of Anna we need to start by doing a little background research…  The Mosaic Law stated that all male Jews were to be circumcised when they were eight days old.

Genesis 17:10-12a (NASB) … “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.  And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.  And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations ….”

The Mosaic Law also stated that a thirty-three-day period of ‘purification’ followed the circumcision and then a sacrifice was required at the temple.

Leviticus 12: 1-8 (NASB)… Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean.  On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.  Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed.  But, if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days.  When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.  Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female.  But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other   for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.”

It was for this reason that Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, were at the temple in Jerusalem where we encounter Anna.

Luke 2:21-24 (NASB) … And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.’), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 

Notice that Mary and Joseph are being obedient to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews lived under in the Old Testament, even though our text is found in the New Testament.  Christ had not yet died on the cross which meant that the Mosaic Law was still in force.

Questions:

In Genesis 17: 10-12a, the word covenant means an agreement between two parties.  In this case, it was an agreement between God and the children of Israel.  What was the covenant/agreement?  

How old were baby boys to be when they were circumcised?  

Looking at Leviticus 12: 1-8 we see the instructions for a woman’s ‘purification’ after she has given birth.  What is she to do after her thirty-three days of ‘purification’ (for a male child) are completed?

What is she to do if she cannot afford a lamb? 

Notice in Luke 2:21-24 which sacrifice Joseph and Mary brought to the Temple.  What does this say about their financial status?  

LOOK IT UP!  We can know approximately how old baby Jesus was when Anna saw Him in the Temple by looking at Leviticus 12:1-8 and Luke 2:21-22.  We see that according to these passages of Scripture, under Mosaic Law, Jesus was circumcised when He was eight days old.  Add the thirty-three days that they were required to wait for Mary’s purification plus travel time and we can assume that Jesus was between 6 – 8 weeks old.

LET'S SUM UP TODAY'S LESSON AND LOOK FOR A 'TAKE-AWAY!':  Anna was an elderly woman and a prophetess.  She was someone who had dedicated her life to God and was completely devoted to living and working for Him.  Enter Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus and suddenly she is reinvigorated by their presence and all that it means ... and she can't keep from telling anyone and everyone.  Are we as excited about telling others about Jesus as Anna was?  Am I as excited about telling others about Jesus as Anna was?

Anna was at least 84 years old, possibly older and she was teaching, telling, praying, fasting and worshiping God.  Let that sink in, Anna didn't let her age stop her from doing what she could for God.  Do I let my age (regardless of what it is) and or ailments stop me from working for the Lord?

Do you have questions about today's lesson, if so put them in the comments.  I'll do my best to answer them according to what God's Word says.  If it's something we'll address in a future lesson in this study, I'll mention that and let you know that we will answer the question in a future lesson.

 Note: Throughout this study you will see the names Hebrew, Children of Israel and Jews used interchangeably.   ‘Hebrew, Children of Israel and Jews’ are all referring to the same race of      people.  God’s chosen people began with Abraham and were called Hebrews.  Later, in Abraham’s lineage, when Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, Jacob/Israel’s descendants were called the children of Israel.   Even later when the kingdom divided and the ten tribes went to the north; they were referred to as Israel and the two tribes that became the southern kingdom became known as Judah and were referred to as Jews.  We know from reading the Old Testament that the ten tribes known as Israel were wiped out leaving Judah.  We also know that Judah was also carried away into captivity for their disobedience to God’s Word but that a remnant was able to return to their homeland, hence, the name Jews.  Sometime after Christ’s death, burial and resurrection God’s chosen people, those who chose God and were obedient to the teachings of Christ, became known as Christians (Acts 11:26) which means Christ-like.

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I love reading your comments, so don't be shy and don't forget to ask any questions you might have pertaining to today's lesson.

I'll meet you back here next Thursday for lesson 2.  

May you be blessed by this study!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~ 

Ladies Bible Study: A Glimpse of Anna

The account of Anna has always intrigued me and now that I am an older woman, it intrigues me even more.  

As an older woman, is there anything I can do for God?  Do the aches, pains and ailments that accompany aging mean I can no longer ... 

should no longer … 

have a legitimate excuse to no longer … 

work for the Lord? 

It is my prayer that this study will show us that there is always something we can do for God, regardless of our age. 

Anna didn't let being a senior citizen stop her from telling others about the Messiah, who had finally come into the world.

In this study we will look at Anna's heritage ...

What she did when her life didn't turn out the way she planned ...

And what her being a 'prophetess' meant ... along with lots more!

Along the way, we will discover what Anna's life can teach us regardless of our age ... there is a lot!  

Are you ready for another in-depth verse by verse Bible study?

This, our latest Bible study will begin on Thursday, September 24th.  Please share with other women about this study.

I'll meet you back here on September 24th.

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~