In the Temple there also lived a prophetess named AnnatranslateTextAnnaHebrew חַנָּה (Hannah), means "grace" or "the graced one." Like her Old Testament namesake (1 Samuel 1-2), who received Samuel after long waiting, this Anna is also a woman of prayer and fulfillment. Her name is her destiny: she has experienced grace and now proclaims grace.—one of the few women of her time with recognized spiritual authority. She was the daughter of PhanueltranslateTextPhanuelHebrew פְּנוּאֵל, means "face of God." Anna's father bore a name pointing to divine encounter (cf. Genesis 32:31, where Jacob names the place Peniel: "I have seen God face to face"). His daughter will now behold the face of God in the Messiah. from the tribe of AshertranslateTextAsherHebrew אָשֵׁר, means "happy, blessed." When Leah had this son, she cried: "Happy am I!" (Genesis 30:13). Anna, daughter of "Face of God" from the tribe "Happy"—her origin is her destiny.. Very old. After seven years of marriage she had become a widow—and remained one. Eighty-four yearstranslateTextEighty-four years (ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων)Unclear whether she was 84 years old or had been a widow for 84 years. In either case, she was very old in an era of short life expectancy. Her survival as a single woman without male protection shows either extraordinary connection with God or the care of the Temple community—probably both.. She never left the Temple. Day and night she served God with fasting and prayer. Eighty years. The same prayers. The same hope. Every day.

And then—at that very moment—she came up. She saw the child. And knew.

Praise burst from her. Then she hurried to all who, like her, were waiting for the redemption of JerusalemlinkContextRedemption of Jerusalem (λύτρωσις Ἰερουσαλήμ)"Redemption" means being bought back from slavery or liberation from oppression. Jerusalem was under Roman occupation—Anna and others were waiting for political and spiritual liberation through the Messiah. After eighty years of waiting, she could proclaim: He is here., and told them about this child.