Luke 2:30

2:30 I have seen your salvation: The phrase echoes Isa 52:12.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Luk 2:30. Εἶδον, have seen) Even his hands held Him: but Simeon adapts his words to those of the promise, Luk 2:26.—τὸ σωτήριόν σου, means of salvation) So ch. Luk 3:6. The language is appropriately put in the abstract, inasmuch as referring to an infant, περὶ τοῦ παιδίου, before that He completed the work of salvation: subsequently He is called the Saviour in the concrete, the appellation which already the Heavenly host had applied to Him in the way of ‘Ampliatio’ [A figure whereby a thing or person is described, not according to what he now is, but what he is about to be. So the angels, in Luk 2:11 above, called Jesus Σωτὴρ.—Append.]. Isa 49:6; Isa 49:9,—τὴν διασπορὰν τοῦ ἸΣΡΑΗΑ ἐπιστρέψαι· ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σε εἰς διαθήκην γένους, εἰς ΦΩΣ ΕΘΝΩΝ, τοῦ εἶναί σε εἰς ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΝ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς.—λέγοντα τοῖς ἐν δεσμοῖς, ἐξέλθετε, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ σκότει, ΑΝΑΚΑΛΥΦΘΗΝΑΙ. Thy means of Salvation, i.e. the Christ. For it was this very Christ that even then Simeon was seeing: and it is He whom Simeon calls a Light and the Glory.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 2:30 gives the reason for this tranquil attitude towards death. τὸ σωτήριον = τὴν σωτηρίαν , often in Sept [29] [29] Septuagint.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That, wherein thy salvation is contained.

That is, for I have seen with my very eyes: for he saw before in mind, as it is said of Abraham, He saw my day, and rejoiced.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

seen thy salvation--Many saw this child, nay, the full-grown "man, Christ Jesus," who never saw in Him "God's Salvation." This estimate of an object of sight, an unconscious, helpless babe, was pure faith. He "beheld His glory" (Joh 1:14). In another view it was prior faith rewarded by present sight.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 30. Thy salvation] That Saviour which it became the goodness of God to bestow upon man, and which the necessities of the human race required. Christ is called our salvation, as he is called our life, our peace, our hope; i.e. he is the author of all these, to them who believe.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(30) Mine eyes have seen thy salvation.—The Greek word is not the usual feminine noun expressing the abstract idea of salvation, but the neuter of the adjective—that which brings or works out salvation. Its use here is probably determined by its appearance in the LXX. version of Isa_52:10, as quoted in Luk_3:6. He saw in that infant child the means of deliverance for the world.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

30. thy salvation] Not τὴν σωτηρίαν but τὸ σωτήριον which seems to have a wider meaning.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,.... The Messiah, who is often so called; see Gen 49:18. He goes by the name of "salvation", because the salvation of God's elect is put into his hands, and he has undertook it; and because he is the author of it, he has fulfilled his engagements, and has accomplished what he promised to do; and because salvation is in him, it is to be had in him; and in him the true Israel of God are saved, with an everlasting salvation: and he is called "God's salvation" because he is a Saviour of his choosing, calling, and constituting; whom he promised under the Old Testament dispensation and in the fulness of time sent; and who now appeared in human nature, and whom good old Simeon now saw, with his bodily eyes; a sight which many kings and prophets had desired, but were not favoured with; and also with the eyes of his understanding, with the spiritual eye of faith, as his Saviour and Redeemer; for without this, the former would not have been sufficient to have given such peace and tranquillity of mind, in a departure out of this world: for many saw him in the days of his flesh, who never saw his glory, as the Son of God, and Saviour of sinners; but such a sight those have, who have their understandings enlightened, and Christ, as God's salvation, set before them: they see him in the glory of his person, the fulness of his grace, the suitableness and excellency of his righteousness, the efficacy of his blood, and the perfection of his sacrifice; and as an able, willing, complete, and only Saviour: and such a sight of him, puts them out of conceit with themselves, and their own works of righteousness, as saviours; makes the creature, and all it has and does, look mean and empty; fills the soul with love to Christ, and a high esteem of him, and with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; it transforms a soul, and makes it like to Christ; gives it inexpressible pleasure and satisfaction; and makes it desirous, as it did this good man, to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than to live in this (in some sense) state of absence from him.

. He goes by the name of "salvation", because the salvation of God's elect is put into his hands, and he has undertook it; and because he is the author of it, he has fulfilled his engagements, and has accomplished what he promised to do; and because salvation is in him, it is to be had in him; and in him the true Israel of God are saved, with an everlasting salvation: and he is called "God's salvation" because he is a Saviour of his choosing, calling, and constituting; whom he promised under the Old Testament dispensation and in the fulness of time sent; and who now appeared in human nature, and whom good old Simeon now saw, with his bodily eyes; a sight which many kings and prophets had desired, but were not favoured with; and also with the eyes of his understanding, with the spiritual eye of faith, as his Saviour and Redeemer; for without this, the former would not have been sufficient to have given such peace and tranquillity of mind, in a departure out of this world: for many saw him in the days of his flesh, who never saw his glory, as the Son of God, and Saviour of sinners; but such a sight those have, who have their understandings enlightened, and Christ, as God's salvation, set before them: they see him in the glory of his person, the fulness of his grace, the suitableness and excellency of his righteousness, the efficacy of his blood, and the perfection of his sacrifice; and as an able, willing, complete, and only Saviour: and such a sight of him, puts them out of conceit with themselves, and their own works of righteousness, as saviours; makes the creature, and all it has and does, look mean and empty; fills the soul with love to Christ, and a high esteem of him, and with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; it transforms a soul, and makes it like to Christ; gives it inexpressible pleasure and satisfaction; and makes it desirous, as it did this good man, to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than to live in this (in some sense) state of absence from him.

Luke 2:31

luk 2:31

luk 2:31

luk 2:31Which thou hast prepared,.... In his eternal purposes and decrees, having chosen and foreordained Christ, and appointed him to be his salvation, to the ends of the earth; in his counsel and covenant of grace wherein it was agreed, determined, and concluded on, that he should be the Saviour of his people; and in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, and in all the types, shadows, and sacrifices, of that dispensation; in which he was exhibited, and held forth as the Saviour to the saints and believers of those times; and now had sent him in human nature, to work out that salvation he had chosen and called him to, and he had undertook:

before the face of all people; meaning not the congregation of Israel, that looked for redemption in Jerusalem, and who were now together with Simeon and Anna, when the child Jesus was presented in the temple; nor the body of the Jewish nation only, to whom he was made manifest, had they not wilfully shut their eyes, by John's ministry and baptism; and more so, by the miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by Christ, in the midst of them; but both Jews and Gentiles: for, as he was provided and sent as a Saviour, and a great one, he was to be lifted up on the cross, as the serpent was lifted up by Moses, in the wilderness, to draw all his elect to him, of every nation; and to be set up as an ensign to the people, in the public ministry of the word; to be the object of faith and hope, to look unto, for life and salvation.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Ver. 30. For mine eyes have seen, &c.] A great satisfaction. So it was to Job, Job 42:5, when he could say, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." What shall it be to us when we shall see God face to face, &c., 1Co 13:12. Colamus hic Deum reverenter donec a spe ad speciem transeamus. Worship we God with reverence till we come to see him face to face. Bucholcer.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thy salvation - Him who is to procure salvation for his people; or, the Saviour.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Thy salvation; i.e. the Saviour, whom thou hast sent. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

30. Thy salvation—Embodied in the person of the new born Messiah.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thy salvation - Thy Christ, thy saviour.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

salvation

(See Scofield "Rom 1:16")

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

my eyes have seen

This expression means, "I have personally seen" or "I, myself, have seen" (See: Synecdoche)

your salvation

This expression refers to the person who would bring salvation—the infant Jesus—whom Simeon was holding. AT: "the savior whom you sent" or "the one whom you sent to save" (See: Metonymy)

which you

Depending on how you translate the previous phrase, this may need to be changed to "whom you."

have prepared

"have planned" or "caused to happen"

A light for revelation to the Gentiles

This metaphor means that the child will help people to understand God's will. The Gentiles understanding God's will is spoken of as if it were people using physical light to see a solid object. You may need to make explicit what it is that the Gentiles will see. AT: "This child will enable the Gentiles to understand God's will as light allows people to see clearly" (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

for revelation

It may be necessary to state what is to be revealed. AT: "that will reveal God's truth" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

glory to your people Israel

"he will be the reason that glory will come to your people Israel"

translationWords

save

people group

light

Gentile

glory

Israel

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

30. τὸ σωτήριον. This seems to have a wider meaning than τὴν σωτηρίαν.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

30. ὅτι. Introduces the cause of the perfect peace.—εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου. Hebraistic fulness of expression: comp. Job 19:27, Job 42:5. His hands also had handled (1Jn 1:1); but he mentions sight rather than handling, because sight was specially promised (ver. 26). This verse probably suggested the worthless tradition that Symeon was blind, and received his sight as the Messiah approached him.

τὸ σωτήριον. “The Messianic salvation,” and scarcely to be distinguished from τὴν σωτηρίαν. Comp. 3:6; Act 28:28; Psa 98:3; Isa 40:5; Clem. Rom. Cor. xxxvi. 1. In LXX it is freq., sometimes in the sense of “safety,” sometimes of “peaceoffering.” Win. xxiv. 2, p. 294. That Symeon says so little about the Child, and nothing about the wonders which attended His birth (of which he had probably not heard), is a mark of genuineness. Fiction would have made him dwell on these things.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.