Luke 2 · Verse 14

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14, King James Version

Luke 2:14 in other translations

BSB“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
WEB“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”
ASVGlory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
YLT‘Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men--good will.'
DARBYGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men.
BBEGlory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased.
WebsterGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.

What does Luke 2:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. Glory, &c.--brief but transporting hymn--not only in articulate human speech, for our benefit, but in tunable measure, in the form of a Hebrew parallelism of two complete clauses, and a third one only amplifying the second, and so without a connecting "and." The "glory to God," which the new-born "Saviour" was to bring, is the first note of this sublime hymn: to this answers, in the second clause, the "peace on earth," of which He was to be "the Prince" (Is 9:6)--probably sung responsively by the celestial choir; while quickly follows the glad echo of this note, probably by a third detachment of the angelic choristers--"good will to men." "They say not, glory to God in heaven, where angels are, but, using a rare expression, "in the highest [heavens]," whither angels aspire not," (He 1:3, 4) [Bengel]. "Peace" with God is the grand necessity of a fallen world. To bring in this, and all other peace in its train, was the prime errand of the Saviour to this earth, and, along with it, Heaven's whole "good will to men"--the divine complacency on a new footing--descends to rest upon men, as upon the Son Himself, in whom God is "well-pleased." (Mt 3:17, the same word as here.)

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. Glory to God. Praise be to God, or honour be to God. That is, the praise of redeeming man is due to God. The plan of redemption will bring glory to God, and is designed to express his glory. This it does by evincing his love to men, his mercy, his condescension, and his regard to the honour of his law and the stability of his own government. It is the highest expression of his love and mercy. Nowhere, so far as we can see, could his glory be more strikingly exhibited than in giving his only-begotten Son to die for men.

In the highest. This is capable of several meanings:

1st. In the highest strains, or in the highest possible manner.

2nd. Among the highest--that is, among the angels of God; indicating that they felt a deep interest in this work, and were called on to praise God for the redemption of man.

3rd. In the highest heavens --indicating that the praise of redemption should not be confined to the earth, but should spread throughout the universe.

4th. The words "God in the highest" may be equivalent to the most high God, and be the same as saying, "Let the most high God be praised for his love and mercy to men." Which of these meanings is the true one it is difficult to determine; but in this they all agree, that high praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming men. O that not only angels, but men, would join universally in this song of praise!

On earth peace (d). That is, the gospel will bring peace. The Saviour was predicted as the Prince of peace, Isa 9:6. The world is at war with God; sinners are at enmity against their Maker and against each other. There is no peace to the wicked. But Jesus came to make peace; and this he did,

1st. By reconciling the world to God by his atonement.

2nd. By bringing the sinner to a state of peace with his Maker; inducing him to lay down the weapons of rebellion and to submit his soul to God, thus giving him the peace which passeth all understanding.

3rd. By diffusing in the heart universal good-will to men--disposing men to lay aside their differences, to love one another, to seek each other's welfare, and to banish envy, malice, pride, lust, passion, and covetousness --in all ages the most fruitful causes of difference among men. And,

4th. By diffusing the principles of universal peace among nations. If the gospel of Jesus should universally prevail, there would be an end of war. In the days of the millennium there will be universal peace; all the causes of war will have ceased; men will love each other and do justly; all nations will be brought under the influence of the gospel. O how should each one toil and pray that the great object of the gospel should be universally accomplished, and the world be filled with peace!

Good will toward men. The gift of the Saviour is an expression of good-will or love to men, and therefore God is to be praised. The work of redemption is uniformly represented as the fruit of the love of God, Jn 3:16, Eph 5:2, 1Jn 4:10, Rev 1:5. No words can express the greatness of that love. It can only be measured by the misery, helplessness, and danger of man; by the extent of his sufferings here and in the world of woe if he had not been saved; by the condescension, sufferings, and death of Jesus; and by the eternal honour and happiness to which he will raise his people. All these are beyond our full comprehension. Yet how little does man feel it! and how many turn away from the highest love of God, and treat the expression of that love with contempt! Surely, if God so loved us first, we ought also to love him, 1Jn 4:19.

(d) Is 57:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Glory to God in the highest - The design of God, in the incarnation, was to manifest the hidden glories of his nature, and to reconcile men to each other and to himself. The angels therefore declare that this incarnation shall manifest and promote the glory of God, εν ὑψιστοις not only in the highest heavens, among the highest orders of beings, but in the highest and most exalted degrees. For in this astonishing display of God's mercy, attributes of the Divine nature which had not been and could not be known in any other way should be now exhibited in the fullness of their glory, that even the angels should have fresh objects to contemplate, and new glories to exult in. These things the angels desire to look into, 1Pet 1:12, and they desire it because they feel they are thus interested in it. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is an infinite and eternal benefit. Heaven and earth both partake of the fruits of it, and through it angels and men become one family, Eph 3:15. Peace, good will toward men - Men are in a state of hostility with Heaven and with each other. The carnal mind is enmity against God. He who sins wars against his Maker; and "Foe to God was ne'er true friend to man." When men become reconciled to God, through the death of his Son, they love one another. They have peace with God; peace in their own consciences; and peace with their neighbors: good will dwells among them, speaks in them, and works by them. Well might this state of salvation be represented under the notion of the kingdom of God, a counterpart of eternal felicity. See on Mat 3:2 (note).

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 2:14 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.

δόξαdoxaGloryG1391
ἐνeninG1722
ὑψίστοιςhupsistois[the] highestG5310
θεῷ,theōto God,G2316
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπὶepionG1909
γῆςgēsearthG1093
εἰρήνηeirēnēpeaceG1515
ἐνenamongG1722
ἀνθρώποιςanthrōpoismenG444
εὐδοκίας.¶eudokiasof good-will.G2107

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

Cross references for Luke 2:14

  • Romans 5:1

    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Luke 19:38

    Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

  • Luke 1:79

    To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

  • Colossians 1:20

    And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

  • Isaiah 9:6-7

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

  • Hebrews 13:20-21

    Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 85:9-12

    Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

  • Revelation 5:13

    And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

  • Titus 3:4-7

    But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Ephesians 3:20-21

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

  • Psalms 96:11-13

    Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

  • Isaiah 57:19

    I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Glory.
19:38; Ps 69:34,35; 85:9-12; 96:11-13; Isa 44:23; 49:13; Joh 17:4
Eph 1:6; 3:20,21; Php 2:11; Re 5:13
and.
1:79; Isa 9:6,7; 57:19; Jer 23:5,6; Mic 5:5; Zec 6:12,13; Joh 14:27
Ac 10:36; Ro 5:1; 2Co 5:18-20; Eph 2:14-18; Col 1:20; Heb 13:20,21
good.
Joh 3:16; Eph 2:4,7; 2Th 2:16; Tit 3:4-7; 1Jo 4:9,10

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Luke 2:15

    And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Gloria en las alturas á Dios, y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Gloire à Dieu dans les lieux très hauts; et sur la terre, paix; et bon plaisir dans les hommes!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Herrlichkeit Gott in der Höhe, und Friede auf Erden, an den Menschen ein Wohlgefallen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.