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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:33

And Joseph and his mother ,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "and his father and mother". The Ethiopic version retains both his name and his relation, and reads, "and Joseph his father, and his mother"; but all the ancient copies read only "Joseph", without the addition, his father; and so the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions: they marvelled at those things which were spoken of him ; the child Jesus: not that those things which Simeon said, were new and strange to them; for they not only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:34

And Simeon blessed them ,.... Pronounced them blessed persons, on account of their relation to Christ as man; and more especially, because of their interest in him, as the, Saviour and Redeemer of them; and wished them all happiness and prosperity inward and outward, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; and so the Arabic version renders it, confining it to Joseph and Mary; "and Simeon blessed them both"; though this blessing of his may take in also the young child Jesus; whom he might pronounce... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:35

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also ,.... Meaning either the sword, "or spear of scandal", as the Arabic version renders it; so the calumny, and reproach of the tongues of men, is compared to a sharp sword, Psalm 57:4 and such the virgin might meet with on account of her conception in art unmarried state, which might greatly wound her soul; or else the sorrows she met with on account of her son: as he was a man of sorrows, so was she a woman of sorrows, from his cradle to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna ,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna, in 1 Samuel 1:2 and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others; and she was a prophetess : for though prophecy had ceased among the Jews for some hundreds of years, it now revived upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years ,.... Which is not the date of her whole age, as some have thought, but of her widowhood state, as distinct from her marriage state, and the time of her virginity. And this sense all the versions favour, Which departed not from the temple that is, she was constant in her devotion there, at the time of divine service, whether by night or day; not that she was in it, for she had been out of it now; otherwise it could not with propriety... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:38

And she coming in that instant ,.... That the parents of Christ brought him into the temple; just as Simeon was embracing him in his arms, and blessing God for him, and saying the things concerning him he had done; and who also came at that juncture, as he did, under the impulse, and by the direction of the Spirit of God, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord : praised him, as he had done, that he had sent the promised, and long looked for Messiah and Saviour; and that she had lived to see... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising - These simple men, having satisfactory evidence of the truth of the good tidings, and feeling a Divine influence upon their own minds, returned to the care of their flocks, glorifying God for what he had shown them, and for the blessedness which they felt. "Jesus Christ, born of a woman, laid in a stable, proclaimed and ministered to by the heavenly host, should be a subject of frequent contemplation to the pastors of his Church. After having... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:21

When eight days were accomplished - The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Genesis 17:12 ; and our blessed Lord received circumcision in token of his subjection to the law, Galatians 4:4 ; Galatians 5:3 . His name was called Jesus - See on Matthew 1:21 ; (note) and John 1:29 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:22

Days of her purification - That is, thirty-three days after what was termed the seven days of her uncleanness - forty days in all: for that was the time appointed by the law, after the birth of a male child. See Leviticus 12:2 , Leviticus 12:6 . The MSS. and versions differ much in the pronoun in this place: some reading αυτης , Her purification; others αυτου , His purification; others αυτων , Their purification; and others αυτοιν , the purification of Them Both. Two versions... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:24

And to offer a sacrifice - Neither mother nor child was considered as in the Lord's covenant, or under the Divine protection, till these ceremonies, prescribed by the law, had been performed. A pair of turtle doves, etc. - One was for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: see Leviticus 12:8 . The rich were required to bring a lamb, but the poor and middling classes were required to bring either two turtle doves, or two pigeons. This is a proof that the holy family were... read more

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