Luke 2:35 kjv
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Luke 2:35 nkjv
(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Luke 2:35 niv
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Luke 2:35 esv
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Luke 2:35 nlt
As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."
Luke 2 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 2:34 | Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel...and for a sign to be spoken against..." | Immediate context; Jesus brings division. |
| Jn 19:25 | So the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother... | Mary's presence at the cross, fulfilling prophecy. |
| Ps 22:12-18 | ...many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They open their mouths wide at Me... | Prophecy of Messiah's suffering and enemies. |
| Isa 53:3-5 | He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | The suffering Servant; resonates with Mary's grief. |
| Zech 12:10 | "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him..." | Grief over the pierced Messiah. |
| Mt 10:34-36 | "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father..." | Jesus bringing division, like a "sword." |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | The Word of God exposes heart's thoughts. |
| Jn 3:19-21 | "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil..." | Jesus as Light revealing men's deeds/thoughts. |
| Jn 9:39 | And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." | Jesus' ministry as a point of division and judgment. |
| Rom 2:16 | ...on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. | God's judgment revealing secret thoughts. |
| 1 Cor 1:18, 23 | For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness... | The cross reveals human reactions and judgments. |
| 2 Cor 2:15-16 | For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life... | Christ's presence has opposite effects on people. |
| Isa 8:14-15 | "Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both houses of Israel, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense..." | Messiah as a stumbling block. |
| Lk 12:51-53 | "Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division..." | Jesus' mission directly causing division. |
| Mal 3:2-3 | "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." | Coming of the Lord as a revealing and purifying agent. |
| 1 Jn 2:19 | They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it might be shown that they all are not of us. | Actions revealing true allegiance. |
| Jn 6:60-66 | As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. | Challenging words revealing disloyalty. |
| Lk 6:45 | The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. | Connection between heart and outward expression/revelation. |
| Rom 10:9-10 | that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness... | Believing in the heart reveals true faith. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | Universal revelation of allegiance to Jesus. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 35 Meaning
This verse prophesies the deep sorrow Mary will experience because of her Son's mission, especially His suffering and death. The "sword" piercing her soul represents profound grief and emotional anguish. This suffering serves a divine purpose: the divisive impact of Jesus' ministry will expose the hidden intentions and true allegiances of many people. Jesus will act as a catalyst, bringing into the open whether hearts are for Him or against Him, revealing their innermost spiritual state.
Luke 2 35 Context
Luke 2:35 is part of Simeon's prophetic words to Mary and Joseph when they present the infant Jesus at the Temple according to Jewish custom (Lk 2:22-38). Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognized Jesus as the Messiah, previously proclaiming Him as the "Light of Revelation to the Gentiles" and the "glory of Israel" (Lk 2:32). Directly after this universal hope, Simeon speaks of Jesus' divisive purpose ("fall and rise of many in Israel," a "sign to be spoken against," Lk 2:34), immediately followed by the specific prophecy concerning Mary's intense sorrow in verse 35. This prophecy foreshadows the profound emotional pain Mary would endure, particularly witnessed at the crucifixion (Jn 19:25). It grounds the Messianic mission not only in triumph but also in profound suffering and sharp division, serving to unveil the true intentions of humanity toward God's plan.
Luke 2 35 Word analysis
- And (καί, kai): Connects this prophecy about Mary's suffering directly to Simeon's previous declaration about Jesus bringing "fall and rise" and being a "sign spoken against." It emphasizes the inherent link between Jesus' divisive mission and Mary's personal anguish.
- a sword (μάχαιρα, machaira): In this context, not a literal weapon but a potent symbol of deep anguish, piercing sorrow, and intense suffering. It conveys sharp, piercing emotional pain. This term is also used biblically to denote discernment or judgment (e.g., Heb 4:12), which aligns with the "revealing of hearts" aspect.
- will pierce through (διελεύσεται, dieleusetai): A future tense verb meaning "will go through," "will pass through," or "will penetrate." It implies a deep, internal, and inevitable experience. This verb choice suggests the enduring and inescapable nature of the coming sorrow for Mary.
- your own soul (σου τὴν ψυχήν, sou tēn psychēn): Refers to Mary's innermost being, her deepest emotions, her affections, and her will. It is the seat of her feelings and identity. The emphasis is on the profound personal, emotional, and spiritual pain she will experience, going far beyond physical hardship.
- also (καί, kai): Implies Mary's suffering is a part of or parallels the wider suffering and rejection that Jesus' ministry will bring. Her sorrow is directly connected to Jesus' destiny as the Messiah.
- that (ἵνα, hina): A purpose clause, indicating the divine intention behind Mary's sorrow and Jesus' divisive ministry. Her suffering is not random but serves a higher purpose in God's plan.
- thoughts (διαλογισμοὶ, dialogismoi): Inner reasonings, intentions, deliberations, opinions, or calculations of the mind and heart. These can be good or evil. It implies the hidden spiritual orientation of an individual.
- from many hearts (πολλῶν καρδιῶν, pollōn kardiōn): The heart, in biblical understanding, is the center of a person's moral and spiritual life—the seat of their intellect, will, emotions, and moral choices. "Many hearts" refers to a broad spectrum of people whose inner realities will be exposed.
- may be revealed (ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν, apokalyphthōsin): A passive verb meaning "may be unveiled," "may be disclosed," or "may be brought to light." Jesus' presence and His work—culminating in the Cross—will act as a catalyst, compelling people to choose sides and thereby exposing their true intentions and hidden dispositions, whether belief or unbelief.
- "And a sword will pierce through your own soul also": This phrase highlights Mary's empathetic suffering for her Son. Her agony is uniquely her own yet inextricably linked to Jesus' redemptive work. It's not just the sorrow of a mother, but the specific prophetic grief associated with bearing the Suffering Servant.
- "that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed": This explains the telos (purpose) of Jesus' challenging ministry and Mary's subsequent anguish. Jesus’ coming forces a confrontation; people are compelled to react to Him. This reaction exposes what is truly hidden within them—their deepest convictions, loyalties, and spiritual state. This revelation occurs as people choose to either accept or reject Jesus.
Luke 2 35 Bonus section
- The Pietà foreshadowed: This verse powerfully foreshadows the iconic image of Mary cradling her dead Son, often depicted as the Pietà, embodying the ultimate sorrow of a mother witnessing the sacrifice of her child.
- Mary's Contemplative Nature: Luke's Gospel consistently portrays Mary as a reflective woman who "treasured up these things and pondered them in her heart" (Lk 2:19, 2:51). Simeon's prophecy would have become a weighty reflection throughout her life, giving meaning to the challenges and eventually the agony she witnessed.
- Divine Passive: The phrase "may be revealed" is in the passive voice, indicating that God is the ultimate agent orchestrating this revelation through His Son. It highlights the divine control and purpose behind human reactions to Christ.
Luke 2 35 Commentary
Luke 2:35 serves as a profound early prophecy concerning both Mary's maternal suffering and the inherently divisive nature of Jesus' ministry. Simeon's words to Mary signify that her journey as the mother of the Messiah would involve deep emotional anguish, symbolized by a piercing sword, likely pointing to her witnessing Jesus' rejection, suffering, and crucifixion. This prophetic suffering is not presented as punitive but purposeful. The revealing of "thoughts from many hearts" implies that Jesus' very presence and work, particularly His message and ultimate sacrifice, would compel people to respond, thereby exposing their true moral and spiritual allegiance. He acts as a spiritual mirror, reflecting the true character of those confronted by Him. Some would embrace Him, rising in faith; others would reject Him, leading to their "fall." Thus, Mary's sorrow is inextricably linked to the essential mission of her Son: to separate light from darkness by revealing the true contents of the human heart.