Luke 2 31

Luke 2:31 kjv

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Luke 2:31 nkjv

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

Luke 2:31 niv

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

Luke 2:31 esv

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

Luke 2:31 nlt

which you have prepared for all people.

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 31 Meaning

Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2:31 reveals that God's plan for salvation, embodied in the child Jesus, is not exclusive to a single people but has been prepared by God to be openly displayed and made available for the entire world. It signifies a universal, visible, and pre-ordained divine provision of salvation for all humanity.

Luke 2 31 Context

Luke 2 describes the birth and early life of Jesus. After His circumcision and presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem according to the Law, Jesus is encountered by Simeon. Simeon, a righteous and devout man filled with the Holy Spirit, had received a divine promise that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon took Him into his arms and blessed God, speaking a profound prophecy known as the "Nunc Dimittis" (Latin for "now dismiss"). Verses 30-32 encapsulate the core of this prophecy, with verse 31 specifically highlighting the universal nature of the salvation Jesus brings. This encounter takes place in the Second Temple, a focal point of Jewish religious life, where many devout Jews would be seeking God. The cultural context at the time was one of intense expectation for a Messiah, often viewed through a nationalistic lens as a deliverer for Israel alone. Simeon's words expand this understanding beyond narrow ethnic boundaries to encompass all humanity.

Luke 2 31 Word analysis

• which (ὅ - ho): A relative pronoun, neuter singular, referring back to "salvation" (σωτήριον - sōtērion) in verse 30. It signifies that this "salvation" is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality or person (Jesus Himself as God's saving power) that God has actively brought forth.
• You (σὺ - sy): The second person singular pronoun, directly addressing God the Father. This highlights that the source and initiator of this salvation are solely God, emphasizing divine agency.
• have prepared (ἡτοίμασας - hētoimasas): From the verb hetoimazō, meaning "to make ready," "to prepare," or "to appoint." The aorist tense denotes a completed action in the past from the speaker's perspective, emphasizing that God's plan for salvation was established long ago, is firm, and is now being brought to fruition in Christ. This implies divine foresight, eternal purpose, and a deliberate, sovereign act.
• in the presence of (πρό προσώπου - pro prosōpou): A prepositional phrase literally meaning "before the face of." It signifies openness, public display, visibility, and accessibility. This salvation is not hidden or for a select few in secret but is openly revealed for all to witness and encounter.
• all (πάντων - pantōn): A genitive plural adjective meaning "all" or "every." This word is crucial as it unequivocally broadens the scope of salvation to be without national or ethnic distinction. It radically challenged the prevailing ethnocentric views that God's redemption was exclusively for the Jews.
• peoples (λαῶν - laōn): The genitive plural of laos. While laos can often refer to Israel as "God's people," when coupled with "all" (pantōn), it distinctly means "all nations" or "all peoples," specifically including Gentiles. This signifies a worldwide, inclusive embrace of humanity in God's redemptive plan, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies regarding Gentile inclusion.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "which You have prepared": This phrase underscores God's sovereignty and deliberate planning. It highlights that the coming of salvation through Jesus was not accidental or reactive but an intentional, eternal design by God for humanity's redemption. This salvation is a divine initiative, fully authored by God Himself.
• "in the presence of all peoples": This crucial phrase speaks to the universal, transparent, and accessible nature of God's salvation in Christ. It means that God's redemptive work through Jesus is a global demonstration, meant to be seen, experienced, and shared by every single nation and individual on earth. It shatters any notion of ethnic or national exclusivity in God's plan.

Luke 2 31 Bonus section

The "salvation" Simeon holds in his arms (Lk 2:30, 31) is the very person of Jesus. Luke's use of sōtērion (salvation/deliverance) as an adjective made into a noun signifies not just a plan for salvation but God's saving act itself personified in the infant Christ. This highlights that Jesus is not merely an instrument of salvation, but the tangible manifestation of God's saving power and presence among humanity. Simeon's prophecy serves as a crucial theological bridge, connecting the long-awaited promises of the Old Testament Messiah with their universal fulfillment in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, particularly foreshadowing Luke's consistent emphasis throughout the book of Acts on the Gospel's journey from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Luke 2 31 Commentary

Simeon's declaration is a powerful statement about the vast scope of God's saving work in Jesus. The word "prepared" speaks to God's eternal foresight and meticulous plan, signifying that Christ's advent and redemptive purpose were always integral to divine design, not an afterthought. The phrase "in the presence of all peoples" fundamentally reorients the common Jewish understanding of the Messiah's role, expanding it from a deliverer solely for Israel to a universal Savior for all humanity. This vision of an open, worldwide salvation means that through Christ, ethnic, national, and cultural barriers are overcome, and anyone, anywhere, can partake in the redemptive work made manifest by God. This prophecy, delivered in the Temple, anticipates the global reach of the Gospel and the Great Commission, wherein God's prepared salvation would be proclaimed and offered to every person on earth.