Luke 2 12

Luke 2:12 kjv

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12 nkjv

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

Luke 2:12 niv

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:12 esv

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:12 nlt

And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 12 Meaning

This verse presents the precise, verifiable, and deeply significant sign given by the angelic host to the shepherds concerning the birth of the Messiah. The sign, contrasting sharply with their heavenly vision, describes finding a helpless infant, typical in form ("babe wrapped in swaddling clothes"), yet atypically situated ("lying in a manger"). This seemingly humble detail serves as the divine confirmation of the glorious announcement, emphasizing the unique humility, vulnerability, and approachable nature of the newly born King, God incarnate.

Luke 2 12 Context

Luke 2:12 follows the glorious announcement by the angel to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11, where they are told of the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord, in the City of David. Having heard the greatest news, the shepherds needed a specific, undeniable means of identifying this uniquely born child amidst the ordinary circumstances of a busy Roman census. This verse provides that "sign"—not a miraculous display for them to perform or witness, but an ordinary object in an extraordinary context. This tangible proof served to authenticate the incredible angelic pronouncement, allowing the humble shepherds to be the first witnesses of the Incarnate Christ in His lowliness, reflecting God's unique ways, far from human expectations of kingly grandeur.

Luke 2 12 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, but highly significant here. It serves as a direct link, connecting the glorious divine announcement in the preceding verse to the specific, practical, and somewhat mundane proof that immediately follows, demonstrating how heavenly declarations meet earthly reality.
• this (τοῦτο - touto): A demonstrative pronoun. It points directly to the succeeding details about the baby, emphasizing that these specific details are what constitute the divine validation, not some other feature.
• shall be (ἔσται - estai - implied): The verb "to be" is implied in the Greek construction. The future tense implies certainty and divine declaration. It is a promise from God through the angel.
• a sign (τὸ σημεῖον - to semeion): This key term means a mark, token, or indicator that serves as a confirmation, a proof, or a divine pointer. In biblical terms, a 'sign' is often more than mere evidence; it's a divine appointment or signal. Here, it is not an ostentatious miracle (the angel's appearance was that), but a humble, specific identifier that authenticates the previous heavenly proclamation. It's the unique combination of the "babe" and the "manger" that forms the sign.
• unto you (ὑμῖν - hymin): A dative pronoun, meaning "to you all," specifically referring to the shepherds. This highlights the personal nature of the sign—it's given directly for their benefit, confirming their particular encounter with the angelic host.
• Ye shall find (εὑρήσετε - heurēsete): This is a future active indicative verb, meaning "you will certainly find." It implies a confident and successful discovery. It's an assurance that their search, prompted by faith in the angelic message, will yield clear results.
• the babe (βρέφος - brephos): Refers specifically to a newborn or a very young infant. The term emphasizes Jesus' full and authentic humanity and His initial state of helplessness, born just like any other child. This contrasts sharply with the angelic splendor just witnessed and common messianic expectations.
• wrapped in swaddling clothes (ἐσπαργανωμένον - esparganōmenon): This perfect passive participle describes the infant's state. Sparpanoō (from sparganon, strips of cloth) means "to wrap tightly with cloths." It was a common ancient practice to wrap newborns firmly in long strips of linen or wool. This provided warmth, comfort, security, and supposedly helped to keep limbs straight. For Jesus, it denotes His complete physical humanity and a normal, albeit humble, birth experience.
• lying (κείμενον - keimenon): A present middle/passive participle, indicating the continuous state of being laid down or reclining. It simply describes the posture and location.
• in a manger (ἐν φάτνῃ - en phatnē): Phatnē refers to a feeding trough for livestock, typically made of wood or stone, often found within a stable or a cave used as shelter for animals. This is the most crucial and surprising element of the sign. Instead of a royal cradle or comfortable bed, the Messiah's first bed is a feeding trough, underscoring His profound humility, self-abnegation, and poverty at birth, fulfilling prophetic themes of lowliness and challenging conventional notions of kingship.

• "And this shall be a sign unto you": This phrase introduces the specific evidence needed. The angels had proclaimed the incredible news; now they provide a means to verify it. It indicates a divinely orchestrated identification process.
• "Ye shall find the babe": Emphasizes the shepherds' active role in verifying the message. Their immediate action in Luke 2:15 confirms their trust and obedience to this instruction. The focus is on the human vulnerability of the Messiah.
• "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger": This forms the complete and unique sign. It highlights the combination of typical human infancy (swaddling clothes) with profoundly atypical circumstances for a 'king' (manger). The swaddling signifies genuine humanity, while the manger profoundly communicates humble beginnings, lack of worldly accommodation, and the subversion of conventional power structures. It portrays a divine King entering His own creation in its lowest estate, making Him uniquely accessible.

Luke 2 12 Bonus section

• The "manger" location has profound theological resonance beyond mere humility. It is a symbol of sustenance; typically animals feed from it. Jesus, placed in a feeding trough, would later declare Himself the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35), suggesting He is the true spiritual nourishment for humanity. This detail prefigures His role as the spiritual food for all who believe.
• The fact that shepherds, considered marginalized and ritually unclean by some religious elites, were chosen as the first recipients and witnesses of this sign is highly significant. It underlines God's preferential option for the humble, the excluded, and the often-overlooked, directly challenging the religious hierarchy of the day.
• While swaddling clothes were common, some scholars connect them to a very ancient tradition related to burial cloths (e.g., Lazarus being unwrapped from "grave clothes"). This subtle echo, if intended, might hint at the trajectory of the Messiah from birth in humble cloths to death in similar wrapped cloths, emphasizing His complete identification with humanity in life and death.
• The contrast between the angelic army (Luke 2:13-14) proclaiming "peace on earth" and the vulnerable "babe...in a manger" suggests that the "peace" brought by Christ would not be through worldly conquest or power, but through a path of humility, servanthood, and eventual sacrifice, overturning traditional notions of kingship and triumph.

Luke 2 12 Commentary

Luke 2:12 provides the tangible counterpoint to the glorious angelic symphony of Luke 2:9-11. The sign for the shepherds is not another dazzling display, but a remarkably mundane, yet unique, set of circumstances: a common baby, in common swaddling clothes, found in the uncommon birthplace of a manger. This sign paradoxically confirms the heavenly majesty by revealing earthly humility. It shows that God's ways are often inverted from human expectations; the Almighty King arrives not with worldly pomp, but in vulnerability and lowliness. This humble beginning foreshadows Jesus' entire ministry, characterized by servanthood, sacrifice, and identification with the poor and outcast. The very first proof of His identity underscored His radical humility and accessibility, an invitation to a Messiah found not in palaces, but where the commonest animals fed. It was a sign understandable to the lowest in society, proclaiming that God had come not just for kings, but for all, beginning with those considered least.