^2:27So⁷⁸ Simeon,⁷⁹ directed by the Spirit,⁸⁰ came into the temple courts,⁸¹ and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,⁸²^2:28Simeon⁸³ took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,⁸⁴

^2:29“Now, according to your word,⁸⁵ Sovereign Lord,⁸⁶ permit⁸⁷ your servant⁸⁸ to depart⁸⁹ in peace.

^2:30For my eyes have seen your salvation⁹⁰

^2:31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:⁹¹

^2:32a light,⁹²

for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory⁹³ to your people Israel.”

^2:33So⁹⁴ the child’s⁹⁵ father⁹⁶ and mother were amazed⁹⁷ at what was said about him. ^2:34Then⁹⁸ Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully:⁹⁹ This child¹⁰⁰ is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising¹⁰¹ of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.¹⁰²

Read in Logos

Luke 2:30–32: “… for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Footnotes

78 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.
79 Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
80 Grk “So in the Spirit” or “So by the Spirit,” but since it refers to the Spirit’s direction the expanded translation “directed by the Spirit” is used here.
81 Grk “the temple.” The temple courts is a reference to the larger temple area, not the holy place. Simeon was either in the court of the Gentiles or the court of women, since Mary was present.
82 Grk “to do for him according to the custom of the law.” See Luke 2:22–24.
83 Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
84 Grk “and said.” The finite verb in Greek has been replaced with a participle in English to improve the smoothness of the translation.
85 The phrase according to your word again emphasizes that God will perform his promise.
86 The Greek word translated here by “Sovereign Lord” is δεσπότης (despotēs).
87 This short prophetic declaration is sometimes called the Nunc dimittis, which comes from the opening phrase of the saying in Latin, “now dismiss,” a fairly literal translation of the Greek verb ἀπολύεις (apolueis, “now release”) in this verse.
88 Here the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos, “slave”) has been translated “servant” since it acts almost as an honorific term for one specially chosen and appointed to carry out the Lord’s tasks. Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
89 Grk “now release your servant.”
90 To see Jesus, the Messiah, is to see God’s salvation.
91 Is the phrase all peoples a reference to Israel alone, or to both Israel and the Gentiles? The following verse makes it clear that all peoples includes Gentiles, another key Lukan emphasis (Luke 24:47; Acts 10:34–43).
92 The syntax of this verse is disputed. Most read “light” and “glory” in parallelism, so Jesus is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and is glory to the people for Israel. Others see “light” (1:78–79) as a summary, while “revelation” and “glory” are parallel, so Jesus is light for all, but is revelation for the Gentiles and glory for Israel. Both readings make good sense and either could be correct, but Luke 1:78–79 and Acts 26:22–23 slightly favor this second option.
93 In other words, Jesus is a special cause for praise and honor (“glory”) for the nation.
94 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.
95 Grk “his”; the referent (the child) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
96 Most ([A] Θ [Ψ] f13 33 𝔐 it) read “Joseph,” but in favor of the reading ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ (ho patēr autou, “his father”) is both external (א B D L W 1 700 1241 sa) and internal evidence. Internally, the fact that Mary is not named at this point and that “Joseph” is an obviously motivated reading, intended to prevent confusion over the virgin conception of Christ, argues strongly for ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ as the authentic reading here. See also the note on “parents” in .
97 The term refers to the amazement at what was happening as in other places in Luke 1–2 (1:63; 2:18). The participle is plural, while the finite verb used in the periphrastic construction is singular, perhaps to show a unity in the parents’ response ( §135.1.d: Luke 8:19).
98 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
99 Grk “behold.”
100 Grk “this one”; the referent (the child) is supplied in the translation for clarity.
101 The phrase the falling and rising of many emphasizes that Jesus will bring division in the nation, as some will be judged (falling) and others blessed (rising) because of how they respond to him. The language is like Isa 8:14–15 and conceptually like Isa 28:13–16. Here is the first hint that Jesus’ coming will be accompanied with some difficulties.
102 Grk “and for a sign of contradiction.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

Now, Master,

you can dismiss your servant in peace,

as you promised.

For my eyes have seen your salvation.

You have prepared it

in the presence of all peoples—

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and glory to your people Israel.

His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—

NLTNew Living Translation

That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,

as you have promised.

I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law, he took him in his arms and praised God and said,

“Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord,

according to your word.

For my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and mother were astonished at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed—

KJV 1900King James Version

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart

In peace, according to thy word:

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

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