Luke 2 17

Luke 2:17 kjv

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luke 2:17 nkjv

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

Luke 2:17 niv

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

Luke 2:17 esv

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

Luke 2:17 nlt

After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 17 Meaning

Luke 2:17 states that after the shepherds had seen the Christ child and confirmed the angelic message, they immediately went out and spread the word about what had been told to them concerning this newborn Savior. Their firsthand encounter transformed them into the first heralds of the good news.

Luke 2 17 Context

Luke chapter 2 begins by establishing the setting with Caesar Augustus's decree for a census, which necessitates Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem. This divinely orchestrated event leads to Jesus' birth in humble surroundings, as there was no room in the inn. In a striking contrast to earthly power and worldly settings, God chose to announce this pivotal birth not to kings or religious leaders, but to lowly shepherds tending their flocks by night. An angel, followed by a multitude of heavenly host, brought the "good tidings of great joy" concerning the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord. The angels provided a sign: a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. In immediate obedience and eager anticipation, the shepherds went "with haste" to Bethlehem, confirming all that the angels had told them by finding Mary, Joseph, and the infant as described. Verse 17 directly follows their "seeing" the fulfillment of the divine word, indicating their response of actively proclaiming what they had witnessed. This act highlights their role as the first witnesses and disseminators of the extraordinary news of the Messiah's arrival, contrasting with the world's indifference or unawareness.

Luke 2 17 Word analysis

• And: Connects this verse directly to the shepherds' actions in Luke 2:15-16, emphasizing the immediate consequence of their visit.
• when they had seen it (εἶδον - eidon): From horaō, to see. This seeing implies not merely a physical gaze but also a deeper comprehension and confirmation. They saw the Christ child, found Him as prophesied by the angel, and understood the reality of the heavenly announcement. Their witness was based on a direct, personal encounter.
• they made known abroad (ἐγνώρισαν - egnōrisan): From gnōrizō, to cause to know, to make known, to publish, to reveal. This verb signifies a deliberate and public declaration. It was not a casual conversation but a purposeful sharing, spreading the message widely, indicating their earnest belief and evangelistic zeal.
• the saying (τὸ ῥῆμα - to rhēma): This refers specifically to the message spoken to them by the angels in Luke 2:10-12, describing the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. Rhēma often denotes a spoken word, a specific utterance, or a divine pronouncement, distinguishing it from logos (which can be a broader concept or principle). It emphasizes the verbal content of the divine revelation given to them.
• which was told them (λαληθὲν αὐτοῖς - lalēthen autois): Laleō means to speak or talk. This is in the passive voice, indicating that the message was spoken to them by the angels. It confirms the source of the information was external and divine.
• concerning this child (περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου - peri tou paidiou toutou): "About this little child." Paidion is a diminutive form of 'child', emphasizing His tender age and perhaps His vulnerability, yet this is the child about whom such momentous things were spoken. Their proclamation was Christ-centered.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "when they had seen it, they made known abroad": This phrase highlights the causal link between their personal experience (seeing and believing) and their subsequent evangelistic action. It portrays an immediate, natural response to a life-changing encounter. Their personal witness fueled their public testimony.
• "the saying which was told them concerning this child": This clarifies the precise content of their message: it was the angelic declaration, the divine truth, centered specifically on the identity and purpose of the newborn Christ. Their focus was singularly on Jesus as revealed by God.

Luke 2 17 Bonus section

The choice of shepherds as the first evangelists is profoundly symbolic and counter-cultural. Shepherds were considered to be of a low social standing, often excluded from formal religious participation due to their "unclean" work. Yet, God bypassed the religious elite and powerful figures, choosing these humble individuals to receive and propagate the divine revelation. This illustrates a consistent biblical theme that God uses the "weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor 1:27) and reveals Himself to those with a simple, childlike faith (Matt 11:25). Their immediate and public testimony validates the miraculous birth and lays a foundational example for future Christian evangelism: personal encounter leading to enthusiastic, verbal dissemination of the good news of Christ, irrespective of social status or perceived spiritual qualifications. Their proclamation served to prepare the way for those who would later encounter Christ in their towns and villages.

Luke 2 17 Commentary

Luke 2:17 reveals the immediate and profound impact of encountering the Messiah. The shepherds, humble and seemingly insignificant, became the first human evangelists. Their response was one of simple faith and spontaneous proclamation, contrasting sharply with the often-skeptical or indifferent reactions encountered elsewhere. They didn't analyze, politicize, or hesitate; they saw the fulfillment of the divine word and immediately "made known abroad" the "saying." This highlights that witnessing Christ is a call to proclamation, whether through direct testimony, joyful praise, or simply living out the transformed life. It also underscores God's method of revelation: choosing the humble, the available, and entrusting them with the greatest news. Their verbal dissemination served to stir "wonder" in all who heard it (v. 18), initiating the spreading of the gospel beyond Bethlehem. This act sets a precedent for believers: once we have personally encountered Christ and His word, we are compelled to share that transformative truth with others.Example: A person receives an unexpected, miraculous answer to prayer. Their immediate inclination is often to share with others how God intervened in their life. This mirrors the shepherds' act of immediate, joyful proclamation after seeing the "saying" fulfilled.