Luke 2 · Verse 35

Luke 2:35

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Luke 2:35, King James Version

Luke 2:35 in other translations

BSBso that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed— and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
WEBYes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
ASVyea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.
YLT(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) --that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'
DARBY(and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that the thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.
BBE(And a sword will go through your heart;) so that the secret thoughts of men may come to light.
Webster(And a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

What does Luke 2:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 2:34-35

34-35. set--appointed. fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against--Perhaps the former of these phrases expresses the two stages of temporary "fall of many in Israel" through unbelief, during our Lord's earthly career, and the subsequent "rising again" of the same persons after the effusion of the Spirit at pentecost threw a new light to them on the whole subject; while the latter clause…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 35. Yea, a sword (s) , &c. The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been thus forewarned and sustained by strong faith, she could not have borne the trials which came upon her Son; but God prepared her for it, and the holy mother of the dying Saviour was sustained.

That the thoughts, &c. This is connected with the preceding verse: "He shall be a sign, a conspicuous object to be spoken against, that the thoughts of many hearts may be made manifest"-- that is, that they might show how much they hated holiness. Nothing so brings out the feelings of sinners as to tell them of Jesus Christ. Many treat him with silent contempt; many are ready to gnash their teeth; many curse him; all show how much by nature the heart is opposed to religion, and thus are really, in spite of themselves, fulfilling the Scriptures and the prophecies. So true is it that "none can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost," 1Cor 12:3.

(s) Jn 19:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 35 Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also - Probably meaning, Thou also, as well as thy son, shall die a martyr for the truth. But as this is a metaphor used by the most respectable Greek writers to express the most pungent sorrow, it may here refer to the anguish Mary must have felt when standing beside the cross of her tortured son: Joh 19:25.

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 2:35 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
σοῦsouof youG4771
δὲdealsoG1161
αὐτῆςautēsof herG846
τὴνtēntheG3588
ψυχὴνpsuchēnsoulG5590
διελεύσεταιdieleusetaiwill go throughG1330
ῥομφαίαrhomphaiaa sword —G4501
ὅπωςhopōsso thatG3704
ἂνanmaybeG302
ἀποκαλυφθῶσινapokaluphthōsinmay be revealedG601
ἐκekofG1537
πολλῶνpollōnmanyG4183
καρδιῶνkardiōnheartsG2588
διαλογισμοί.¶dialogismoi[the] thoughts.G1261

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

Cross references for Luke 2:35

  • Deuteronomy 8:2

    And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:19

    For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

  • Matthew 12:24-35

    But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. …

  • Luke 16:14-15

    And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

  • Acts 8:21-23

    Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

  • Judges 5:15-16

    And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

  • John 19:25

    Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

  • John 15:22-24

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • Psalms 42:10

    As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

  • 1 John 2:19

    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

  • John 8:42-47

    Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a sword.
Ps 42:10; Joh 19:25
that.
16:14,15; De 8:2; Jud 5:15,16; Mt 12:24-35; Joh 8:42-47; 15:22-24
Ac 8:21-23; 1Co 11:19; 1Jo 2:19

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

Context

  • Luke 2:34

    And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

  • Luke 2:35

    (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

  • Luke 2:36

    And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

Read all of Luke 2

Luke 2:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y una espada traspasará tu alma de ti misma, para que sean manifestados los pensamientos de muchos corazones.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
(et même une épée transpercera ta propre âme), en sorte que les pensées de plusieurs cœurs soient révélées.
German
Elberfelder 1871
, damit die Überlegungen vieler Herzen offenbar werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes.