Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

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Other translations

WEBBE

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

BSB

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

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.

ASV

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

BBE

Then the keepers of the sheep went back, giving glory and praise to God for all the things which had come to their ears and which they had seen, as it had been said to them.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai And G2532 ὑπέστρεψαν hupestrepsan returned G5290 οἱ hoi the G3588 ποιμένες poimenes shepherds G4166 δοξάζοντες doxazontes glorifying G1392 καὶ kai and G2532 αἰνοῦντες ainountes praising G134 τὸν ton (the) G3588 θεὸν theon God G2316 ἐπὶ epi for G1909 πᾶσιν pasin all things G3956 οἷς hois which G3739 ἤκουσαν ēkousan they had heard G191 καὶ kai and G2532 εἶδον eidon seen G1492 καθὼς kathōs even as G2531 ἐλαλήθη elalēthē it was said G2980 πρὸς pros to G4314 αὐτούς.¶ autous them G846

The early church

(non occ.) But every one rejoiced in the nativity of Christ, not with human feelings, as men are wont to rejoice when a son is born, but at the presence of Christ and the lustre of the Divine light. As it follows: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for every thing they had heard, &c.
Athanasius of Alexandria · d. 373Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
That is to say, from the Angels, and had seen, i. e. in Bethlehem, as it was told them, i. e. they glory in this, that when they came they found it even as it was told them, or as it was told them they give praise and glory to God. For this they were told by the Angels to do, not in very word commanding them, but setting before them the form of devotion when they sung glory to God in the highest.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
The masters of the spiritual flocks also, while others sleep, at one time by contemplation enter into the heavenly places, at another time pass around them by seeking the examples of the faithful, at another time by teaching return to the public duties of the pastoral office.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Every one of us, even he who is supposed to live as a private person, exercises the office of shepherd, if, keeping together a multitude of good actions and pure thoughts, he strive to rule them with due moderation, to feed them with the food of the Scriptures, and to preserve them against the snares of the devil.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 8–20

Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 2 →

Cross-references

12

Topics

PraiseThankfulnessJoyGlorifying God

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.