Luke 2:20 kjv
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:20 nkjv
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:20 niv
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:20 esv
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:20 nlt
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 2:13-14 | ...multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God... | Angels inspire praise |
| Lk 17:15-16 | One of them, when he saw that he was healed...glorified God... | Individual glorifying God after receiving |
| Acts 2:47 | Praising God, and having favour with all the people. | Early church community glorifying God |
| Rom 15:6 | That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God... | Apostolic teaching on glorifying God |
| Rev 4:11 | Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power... | Heavenly worship acknowledging God's worth |
| Ps 107:8 | Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness... | Call to praise God for His works |
| Ps 113:3 | From the rising of the sun...the LORD's name is to be praised. | Universal praise to God |
| Ps 148:1-2 | Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye him, all his angels... | All creation called to praise God |
| Isa 42:12 | Let them give glory unto the LORD... | Prophetic command to glorify God |
| Jn 20:29 | Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. | Blessedness of belief without sight |
| 1 Jn 1:1-3 | That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes... | Apostolic witness based on direct experience |
| Lk 1:1-2 | ...which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word... | Luke's reliance on verified accounts |
| Acts 4:20 | For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. | Witnesses compelled to proclaim |
| Lk 1:45 | Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those... | Fulfillment for believing God's word |
| Lk 24:44 | ...all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law... | Jesus confirms scriptural fulfillment |
| Acts 3:18 | ...God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets...he hath so fulfilled. | God fulfills prophecies |
| Ex 4:31 | ...they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel...worshipped. | Response to divine visitation |
| Lk 5:25-26 | Immediately he rose...and departed to his own house, glorifying God... | Glorifying God after seeing a miracle |
| Lk 19:37 | ...multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God... | Joyful praise for God's mighty works |
| Neh 9:5 | Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever... | Exhortation to bless and worship God |
| 1 Thes 2:13 | ...ye received the word of God which ye heard...as it is in truth, the word of God. | Receiving God's word as truth |
| Ps 22:23 | Ye that fear the LORD, praise him... | Encouragement to praise for those who fear God |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 20 Meaning
The shepherds, having encountered the angelic host and found the Christ child in the manger exactly as prophesied and described, returned to their lives filled with profound adoration. Their worship was directed toward God, attributing all glory and honor to Him. Their praise stemmed from the direct, tangible evidence that what they had heard from the angels was perfectly fulfilled in what they saw, thus confirming the truth and faithfulness of God's divine word.
Luke 2 20 Context
Luke 2:20 occurs immediately after the shepherds' encounter with the infant Jesus. Previously, angels announced the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord, in Bethlehem, providing the sign of a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Lk 2:10-12). The shepherds, though humble and often marginalized in society, chose to act on this divine revelation, going directly to Bethlehem where they found the child exactly as described (Lk 2:15-16). Verse 20 marks their immediate, spirit-filled reaction after witnessing the fulfillment of the angelic message, showing a profound change in their disposition and understanding. It demonstrates the impact of a direct, undeniable divine encounter on those who believe and respond.
Luke 2 20 Word analysis
- And: Connects this action to the immediate preceding events—their departure from Bethlehem after finding Jesus.
- the shepherds: (Greek: hoi poimenes - οἱ ποιμένες). Ordinary, unregarded individuals, yet chosen by God as the first human witnesses and evangelists of the Messiah's birth. This highlights God's preference for the humble.
- returned: (Greek: hypostrephontes - ὑποστρέφοντες). Indicates their going back to their regular task, but no longer as they were before; their lives are profoundly transformed by what they experienced.
- glorifying: (Greek: doxazontes - δοξάζοντες). Actively giving praise, honor, and majesty to God. It suggests an acknowledgement of His supreme worth, power, and perfection, connecting to the "glory of the Lord" that shone around them earlier (Lk 2:9).
- and praising: (Greek: ainountes - αἰνοῦντες). Specific, enthusiastic commendation and adoration through words and likely song. It denotes heartfelt gratitude and celebratory worship.
- God: (Greek: ton Theon - τὸν Θεόν). The sole object of their profound reverence and worship, recognized as the initiator and fulfiller of this miraculous event.
- for all the things: (Greek: epi pasin tois - ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς). Their praise was comprehensive, encompassing every detail of their divine encounter and its immediate validation.
- that they had heard: (Greek: hōn ēkousan - ὧν ἤκουσαν). Refers specifically to the angelic message and detailed instructions (Lk 2:10-14). Their belief was initially based on this divine oral testimony.
- and seen: (Greek: kai eidon - καὶ εἶδον). Refers to their direct eyewitness account of finding the infant exactly as described in the manger (Lk 2:16). This experience confirmed and solidified what they had heard.
- as it was told unto them: (Greek: kathōs elalēthē pros autous - καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς). This phrase emphatically confirms the accurate and faithful fulfillment of God's word. It highlights the precise correspondence between the divine message and its tangible manifestation, leaving no doubt about the truth.
Luke 2 20 Bonus section
- The immediate and spontaneous nature of their worship suggests a profound impact beyond mere intellectual understanding; it was a heart-level transformation.
- The contrast between the shepherds' humble status and their extraordinary role as God's first evangelists to Bethlehem residents highlights God's election of the unlikeliest individuals to witness His greatest acts (Lk 2:17-18).
- The emphasis on "heard and seen" is critical for the gospel message. It signifies eyewitness testimony and verifiable facts as foundational to faith, not blind acceptance. God revealed His plan and then provided tangible proof of its execution.
Luke 2 20 Commentary
Luke 2:20 provides a poignant example of the proper response to divine revelation: awe-filled worship and public declaration. The shepherds, initially recipients of an angelic message, became the first to verify and rejoice in its fulfillment. Their actions model a worship that is not based on mere emotion, but on concrete, verifiable truth – what God said, He performed. This active response of glorifying and praising God, even as they returned to their daily tasks, showcases the transformative power of a personal encounter with the Christ child. It sets a pattern for all believers to respond with adoration when experiencing God's faithfulness and fulfilled promises.