Luke devotes three short verses to a widow named Anna. Included in his description are her name, her father's name and the tribe of her linage. Why would Luke offer such seemingly arbitrary details given the brevity of his treatment? The names are significant and compliment the story.

Anna means "grace" and Phanuel means "the face of God." The providential meaning of these names are fulfilled as Anna looks into the eyes of the Christ child, truly grace is beholding the face of God.