Luke 2 · Verse 13

Luke 2:13

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 2:13, King James Version

Luke 2:13 in other translations

BSBAnd suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
WEBSuddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,
ASVAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
YLTAnd suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
DARBYAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
BBEAnd suddenly there was with the angel a great band of spirits from heaven, giving praise to God, and saying,
WebsterAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

What does Luke 2:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. suddenly--as if only waiting till their fellow had done. with the angel--who retires not, but is joined by others, come to seal and to celebrate the tidings he has brought. heavenly host--or "army," an army celebrating peace! [Bengel] "transferring the occupation of their exalted station to this poor earth, which so seldom resounds with the pure praise of God" [Olshausen]; to let it be known how this event is regarded in heaven and should be regarded on earth.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
No entry from BARNES for this verse.

(c) "with the angel a multitude" Ps 103:21, 1Pet 1:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Suddenly there was with the angel, etc. - this multitude of the heavenly host had just now descended from on high, to honor the new-born Prince of peace, to give his parents the fullest conviction of his glory and excellence, and to teach the shepherds, who were about to be the first proclaimers of the Gospel, what to think and what to speak of him, who, while he appeared as a helpless infant, was the object of worship to the angels of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 2:8-20

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…

Read the full comment on Luke 2:8-20 →

Luke 2:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐξαίφνηςexaiphnēssuddenlyG1810
ἐγένετοegenetothere cameG1096
σὺνsunwithG4862
τῷtōtheG3588
ἀγγέλῳangelōangelG32
πλῆθοςplēthosa multitudeG4128
στρατιᾶςstratiasof [the] hostG4756
οὐρανίουouraniouheavenlyG3770
αἰνούντωνainountōnpraisingG134
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
καὶkaiandG2532
λεγόντων·legontōnsaying:G3004

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 2:13

  • Revelation 5:11

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

  • Psalms 148:2

    Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

  • Psalms 103:20-21

    Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

  • 1 Kings 22:19

    And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

  • Luke 15:10

    Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

  • Hebrews 1:14

    Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

  • Job 38:7

    When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

  • Daniel 7:10

    A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

  • Isaiah 6:2-3

    Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

  • Genesis 32:1-2

    And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

  • Genesis 28:12

    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

  • Ephesians 3:10

    To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a multitude.
Ge 28:12; 32:1,2; 1Ki 22:19; Job 38:7; Ps 68:17; 103:20,21; 148:2
Isa 6:2,3; Eze 3:12; Da 7:10; Lu 15:10; Eph 3:10; Heb 1:14; 1Pe 1:12
Re 5:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 2:12

    And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

  • Luke 2:13

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

  • Luke 2:14

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y repentinamente fué con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, que alababan á Dios, y decían:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et soudain il y eut avec l’ange une multitude de l’armée céleste, louant Dieu, et disant:
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und plötzlich war bei dem Engel eine Menge der himmlischen Heerscharen, welche Gott lobten und sprachen:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiæ cælestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium: