Luke 2 · Verse 17

Luke 2:17

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Luke 2:17, King James Version

Luke 2:17 in other translations

BSBAfter they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
WEBWhen they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
ASVAnd when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
YLTand having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.
DARBYand having seen it they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.
BBEAnd when they saw it, they gave them an account of the things which had been said to them about the child.
WebsterAnd when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

What does Luke 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. made known abroad--before their return (Lu 2:20), and thus were the first evangelists [Bengel].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. When they had seen it. When they had satisfied themselves of the truth of the coming of the Messiah, and had ascertained that they could not have been mistaken in the appearance of the angels. There was evidence enough to satisfy them that what the angels said was true, or they would not have gone to Bethlehem. Having seen the child themselves, they had now evidence that would satisfy others; and accordingly they became the first preachers of the gospel, and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come. One of the first duties of those who are newly converted to God, and a duty in which they delight, is to proclaim to others what they have seen and felt. It should be done in a proper way and at the proper time; but nothing can or should prevent a Christian recently converted from telling his feelings and views to others--to his friends, to his parents, to his brothers, and to his old companions. And it may be remarked that often more good may be done then than during any other period of their life. Entreaties then make an impression; nor can a sinner well resist the appeals made to him by one who was just now with him in the way to ruin, but who now treads the way to heaven.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 They made known abroad the saying - These shepherds were the first preachers of the Gospel of Christ: and what was their text? Why, Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace and good will among men. This is the elegant and energetic saying which comprises the sum and substance of the Gospel of God. This, and this only, is the message which all Christ's true pastors or shepherds bring to men. He who, while he professes the religion of Christ, disturbs society by his preachings or writings, who excludes from the salvation of God all who hold not his religious or political creed, never knew the nature of the Gospel, and never felt its power or influence. How can religious contentions, civil broils, or open wars, look that Gospel in the face which publishes nothing but glory to God, and peace and good will among men? Crusades for the recovery of a holy land so called, (by the way, latterly, the most unholy in the map of the world), and wars for the support of religion, are an insult to the Gospel, and blasphemy against 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 2:17 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.

ἰδόντεςidontesHaving seenG1492
δὲdenowG1161
ἐγνώρισανegnōrisanthey made knownG1107
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τοῦtoutheG3588
ῥήματοςrhēmatosdeclarationG4487
τοῦtouwhichG3588
λαληθέντοςlalēthentoshaving been toldG2980
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τοῦtou<the>G3588
παιδίουpaidiouChildG3813
τούτου.toutouthis.G3778

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

Cross references for Luke 2:17

  • Psalms 66:16

    Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

  • Luke 8:39

    Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

  • Psalms 71:17-18

    O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

  • Luke 2:38

    And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 16:9-10

    Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

  • John 1:41-46

    He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
38; 8:39; Ps 16:9,10; 66:16; 71:17,18; Mal 3:16; Joh 1:41-46; 4:28,29

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

Context

  • Luke 2:16

    And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

  • Luke 2:17

    And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

  • Luke 2:18

    And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y viéndolo, hicieron notorio lo que les había sido dicho del niño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ayant vu, ils divulguèrent la parole qui leur avait été dite touchant ce petit enfant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie es aber gesehen hatten, machten sie überall das Wort kund, welches über dieses Kindlein zu ihnen geredet worden war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc.