Luke 2 · Verse 29

Luke 2:29

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Luke 2:29, King James Version

Luke 2:29 in other translations

BSB“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
WEB“Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
ASVNow lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace;
YLT‘Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,
DARBYLord, now thou lettest thy bondman go, according to thy word, in peace;
BBENow you are letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said;
WebsterLord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

What does Luke 2:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. Lord--"Master," a word rarely used in the New Testament, and selected here with peculiar propriety, when the aged saint, feeling that his last object in wishing to live had now been attained, only awaited his Master's word of command to "depart." now lettest, &c.--more clearly, "now Thou art releasing Thy servant"; a patient yet reverential mode of expressing a desire to depart.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. (m) Now lettest. Now thou dost let or permit. This word is in the indicative mood, and signifies that God was permitting him to die in peace (n), by having relieved his anxieties, allayed his fears, fulfilled the promises, and having, by the appearing of the Messiah, removed every reason why he should live any longer, and every wish to live.

Depart. Die.

According to thy word. Thy promise made by revelation. God never disappoints. To many it might have appeared improbable, when such a promise was made to an old man, that it should be fulfilled. But God fulfills all his word, keeps all his promises, and NEVER disappoints those who trust in him.

(m) Gen 46:30 (n) Isa 57:2, Rev 14:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace - Now thou dismissest, απολυεις, loosest him from life; having lived long enough to have the grand end of life accomplished. According to thy word - It was promised to him, that he should not die till he had seen the Lord's anointed, Luk 2:26; and now, having seen him, he expects to be immediately dismissed in peace into the eternal world; having a full assurance and enjoyment of the salvation of God. Though Simeon means his death, yet the thing itself is not mentioned; for death has not only lost its sting, but its name also, to those who have, even by faith, seen the Lord's anointed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 2:25-35

The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how…

Read the full comment on Luke 2:25-35 →

Luke 2:29 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.

νῦνnunNowG3568
ἀπολύειςapolueisYou dismissG630
τὸνtontheG3588
δοῦλόνdoulonservantG1401
σου,souof You,G4771
δέσποτα,despotaLord,G1203
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὸtotheG3588
ῥῆμάrhēmadeclarationG4487
σουsouof YouG4771
ἐνeninG1722
εἰρήνῃeirēnēpeaceG1515

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

Cross references for Luke 2:29

  • Revelation 14:13

    And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

  • Genesis 15:15

    And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  • Genesis 46:30

    And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

  • Isaiah 57:1-2

    The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

  • Luke 2:26

    And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

  • Psalms 37:37

    Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
now.
Ge 15:15; 46:30; Ps 37:37; Isa 57:1,2; Php 1:23; Re 14:13
according.
26

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

Context

  • Luke 2:28

    Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

  • Luke 2:29

    Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

  • Luke 2:30

    For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora despides, Señor, á tu siervo, conforme á tu palabra, en paz;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Maintenant, Seigneur, tu laisses aller ton esclave en paix selon ta parole;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nun, Herr, entlässest du deinen Knecht, nach deinem Worte, in Frieden;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: