Who was Anna the prophetess in the Bible?

A prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of Asher, who gave thanks when the infant Jesus was presented in the temple. Luke 2:36. She was one of the godly who looked for redemption in Israel.

In verse 36 we read, "and there was one Anna, a prophetess". We see in her a vessel that had been in touch with God and had also received divine communications. She was one who had been seeking to maintain the interest of the godly remnant of Israel in relation to the coming Messiah. She was "the daughter of Phanuel", a name which has reference to the "face of God"; and as "of the tribe of Aser" we see in her features answering to what is said of that tribe in Genesis and in Deuteronomy. She was marked by prayers, and there was much to pray about; she was marked by fasting, and there was much to fast about.

It is said of Asher in Deuteronomy 33 "let him dip his foot in oil". A foot dipped in oil leaves an impression in its walk, and that is what Anna did, she "spake of Him", and left an impression of Christ wherever she went.

Another very aged witness is brought in by God at that instant. Anna, her name meaning "She was gracious" is the daughter of Phanuel ("the face of God"), of the tribe of Asher ("happy"). How appropriate are these connections! She had been married to a husband for about 84 years (v.37): hence if she had been married at 16, her age at this time would be 107. Her consistent devotion to the Lord, with fastings and prayers night and day, had not wearied with age.

Simeon and Anna. — But other events of that day are noticed. So we read of the aged Simeon, and of the devout widow Anna, a prophetess of the tribe of Asher. Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel. Anna was in touch with those who waited for the redemption of Jerusalem, as we should here read (2:38).

As Simeon was said to be just and pious, so the Spirit loves to record a blessed account of this believing woman, Anna. If he, too, had the spirit of prophecy, so had she. "She was a widow up to eighty-four years,59 who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers." The subjection of these godly ones in Israel to ordinances, or their submission to God according to the law, is carefully noted here. "And she coming up the same hour, gave praise to the LORD,† and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in‡59a Jerusalem." The present guidance of God is equally conspicuous in her case as in that of Simeon. There was then, as ever, a remnant according to the election of grace; and God took care that the testimony should reach those whose hearts were prepared for Jesus. Grace might and would in due time go out to the very vilest; but God first of all makes Him known to those whose hearts were already touched, waiting for Jesus. The moral wisdom of such ways seems to me equally apparent and admirable. "Up to": so Edd., following ℵABLΞ, 33, Amiat. Memph. "About" has the support of later uncials (EXΔ, etc.), as of most cursives, and Syrr (sin.: simply 84). †"The Lord": so A and later uncials, with most cursives, nearly all Old Lat. Amiat. Syrr. Aeth. Arm. Edd. adopt "God," from ℵBDL, etc., Memph. ‡"In": so AD, etc.; but Edd. omit, after ℵBΞ, 1, Syrsin ("of").

For example, the blessing of Asher in Deut. 33:24-25, ends with these lovely words: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" and all went to ruin, as the history of Israel unfolds. Yet, at the first coming of Christ, when the godly pious remnant of the people were "waiting for the consolation of Israel," we find one of that same tribe, "Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser [Asher], a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day," in the enjoyment and power of that blessing of Moses; "so shall thy strength be." And the Lord Christ Himself became identified with that obscure remnant, of which she. was one, a remnant who were ready to receive Him when first He came.

Anna is described as a prophetess in Luke 2:36. She prayed, she fasted, she sang praises and she spoke of the Lord to all those who waited for redemption in Israel. She was quite a remarkable woman and she was not young by any means, in fact she was very old, but we are impressed by the energy and the spiritual vitality and life that she had. Then we find in the Acts of the Apostles that Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9). I would think they prophesied at home, because the Scriptures tell us plainly that women are to keep silent in the assemblies (1 Cor.14:34-38, 1 Tim.2:11-12), so if they exercised their prophetic character then it must have been at home or in some private capacity by which they were able to convey the mind of the Lord to those who required it at any given moment.

In contrast, and as a beautiful example to the godly, is the aged Anna, of whom Scripture gives this worthy account: "She was the daughter of Phanuel (i.e. Penuel, the face of God), of the tribe of Aser (happy) … and departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day." She joined the venerable Simeon in his thanksgiving to God for His gift of the infant Christ, "and spake of Him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." As has been remarked, she gave her testimony, not in the congregation of the Lord, but in the temple. She had indeed seen "the face of God," and was in consequence "happy," not in public ministry, but personal testimony to the Lord, her Saviour.

The service of the Levites was strictly limited to 25 years, beginning at age 25 and ending at 50. After 50 they were allowed still to assist the other Levites in ministering, but were to do no work. This does show that while age will necessarily limit our physical labor, it does not limit assisting in ways that we can, therefore there is no reason for one to be set aside from doing spiritual service. Even a woman, Anna, is a lovely example of this (Luke 2:36-38). A true prophetess, having been a widow for 84 years, she "served God with fasting and prayers night and day." John too, when over 90 years of age, was given the wonderful privilege of serving God in writing the Book of Revelation.

59 Luke 2:36 f. — The Syrsin curiously makes the meaning to be "had lived seven days only with her husband." As the R.V. shows, she must have been at least 105 years of age. For ascetic connection, cf. 1 Tim. 5:9. See also "Catholic Catechism," No. 330. "Up to": Engl. Revv., "even for"; American, "even unto."