Luke 2 · Verse 31

Luke 2:31

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luke 2:31, King James Version

Luke 2:31 in other translations

BSBwhich You have prepared in the sight of all people,
WEBwhich you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
ASVWhich thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
YLTwhich Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,
DARBYwhich thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
BBEWhich you have made ready before the face of all nations;
WebsterWhich thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

What does Luke 2:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 2:31-32
31-32. all people--all the peoples, mankind at large. a light to the Gentiles--then in thick darkness. glory of thy people Israel--already Thine, and now, in the believing portion of it, to be so more gloriously than ever. It will be observed that this "swan-like song, bidding an eternal farewell to this terrestrial life" [Olshausen], takes a more comprehensive view of the kingdom of Christ than that of Zacharias, though the kingdom they sing of is one.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 31. Before the face of all people. Whom thou hast provided for all people, or whom thou dost design to reveal to all people.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Which thou hast prepared - Ὁ ἡτοιμασας, which thou hast Made Ready before the face, in the presence, of all people. Here salvation is represented under the notion of a feast, which God himself has provided for the whole world; and to partake of which he has invited all the nations of the earth. There seems a direct allusion here to Isa 25:6, etc. "In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things," etc. Salvation is properly the food of the soul, by which it is nourished unto eternal life; he that receiveth not this, must perish for ever.

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 2:31 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.

ὃhowhichG3739
ἡτοίμασαςhētoimasasYou have preparedG2090
κατὰkatabeforeG2596
πρόσωπονprosōpon[the] faceG4383
πάντωνpantōnof allG3956
τῶνtōntheG3588
λαῶν,laōnpeoples,G2992

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

Cross references for Luke 2:31

  • Isaiah 42:1-4

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

  • Isaiah 62:1-2

    For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

  • Psalms 98:2-3

    The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

  • Isaiah 42:10-12

    Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.

  • Isaiah 45:21-25

    Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. …

  • Psalms 97:6-8

    The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

  • Psalms 96:10-13

    Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. 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.

  • Psalms 96:1-3

    O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ps 96:1-3,10-13; 97:6-8; 98:2,3; Isa 42:1-4,10-12; 45:21-25
Isa 62:1,2

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

Context

  • Luke 2:30

    For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

  • Luke 2:31

    Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

  • Luke 2:32

    A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La cual has aparejado en presencia de todos los pueblos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		lequel tu as préparé devant la face de tous les peuples:
German
Elberfelder 1871		welches du bereitet hast vor dem Angesicht aller Völker:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: