the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — dative singular feminine
in
ἐπιστᾶσαepistasa
G2186
to stand upon · verb — second aorist active participle, nominative singular feminine
that
αὐτοῦautou
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular masculine
instant
ὥρᾳhōra
G5610
an "hour" (literally or figuratively) · noun — dative singular feminine
likewise
ἀνθωμολογεῖτοanthōmologeito
G437
to confess in turn · verb — imperfect middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
Lord
κύριοςkýrios
G2962
supreme in authority
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
spake
ἐλάλειelalei
G2980
to talk · verb — imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular
of
περὶperi
G4012
properly · preposition
him
αὐτόςautós
G846
the reflexive pronoun self
all
πᾶσινpasin
G3956
all · adjective — dative plural masculine
looked
προσδεχομένοιςprosdechomenois
G4327
to admit (to intercourse · verb — present middle or passive deponent participle, dative plural masculine
redemption
λύτρωσινlutrōsin
G3085
a ransoming (figuratively) · noun — accusative singular feminine
in
ἐνen
G1722
"in
Jerusalem
Ἰερουσαλήμ.¶Ierousalēm
G2419
Hierusalem (i.e. Jerushalem) · noun — genitive singular feminine, a place
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israe…
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved t…
Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were d…
Luke 1:46-56 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 2:28-32 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingd…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Luke 2:25-40
Even when he humbles himself, still Christ has honour done him to balance the offence of it. That we might not be stumbled at the meanness of his birth, angels then did him honour; and now, that we may not be offended at his being presented in the temple, like other children born in sin, and without any manner of solemnity peculiar to him, but silently, and in the crowd of other children, Simeon and Anna now do him honour, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
I. A very honourable testimony is borne to him by Simeon, which was both a reputation to the child and an encouragement to the parents, and might have been a happy introduction of the priests into an acquaintance with the Saviour, if t…
coming in--"presenting herself." She had been there already but now is found "standing by," as Simeon's testimony to the blessed Babe died away, ready to take it up "in turn" (as the word rendered "likewise" here means).
to all them, &c.--the sense is, "to all them in Jerusalem that were looking for redemption"--saying in effect, In that Babe are wrapt up all your expectations. If this was at the hour of prayer, when numbers flocked to the temple, it would account for her having such an audience as the words imply [ALFORD].
Adam Clarke on Luke 2:38
Coming in that instant - Αυτῃ τῃ ὡρᾳ, at that very time - while Simeon held the blessed Redeemer in his arms, and was singing his departing and triumphal song.
Gave thanks likewise - She, as well as Simeon, returned God public thanks, for having sent this Savior to Israel.
Spake of him - Of the nature and design of his mission; and the glory that should take place in the land.
To all them that looked for redemption - As Daniel's seventy weeks were known to be now completed, the more pious Jews were in constant expectation of the promised Messiah. They were expecting redemption, λυτρωσιν; such a redemption as was to be brought about by an atonement, or expiatory victim, or ransom price. S…
But because Anna's words were nothing remarkable, and of no great note respecting Christ, the Gospel does not give the particulars of what she said, and perhaps for this reason one may suppose that Simeon anticipated her, since he indeed bore the character of the law, (for his name signifies obedience,) but she the character of grace, (which her name is by interpretation,) and Christ came between them. Therefore He let Simeon depart dying with the law, but Anna he sustains living beyond through grace.
And coming up at that moment she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. [Simeon prophesied, the one joined in marriage prophesied, the virgin prophesied, and the widow should also prophesy, so that no state of life or sex should be wanting. And therefore, Anna is introduced with the merit of widowed life and such behavior that she is plainly believed to be worthy to announce that the Redeemer has come for all.
When, then, to these sacred rites, prophecy and the priesthood had been jointly called, and that pair of just ones elected of God—Simeon, I mean, and Anna, bearing in themselves most evidently the images of both peoples—had taken their station by the side of that glorious and virginal throne,—for by the old man was represented the people of Israel, and the law now waxing old; whilst the widow represents the Church of the Gentiles, which had been up to this point a widow,—the old man, indeed, as personating the law, seeks dismissal; but the widow, as personating the Church, brought her joyous confession of faith and spake of Him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem, even as the things that were spoken of both have been appositely and excellently recorded, and quite in harmony with the sacred festival. For it was fitting and necessary that the old man who knew so accurately that decree of the law, in which it is said: Hear Him, and every soul that will not hearken unto Him shall be cut off from His people, should seek a peaceful discharge from the tutorship of the law; for in truth it were insolence and presumption, when the king is present and addressing the people, for one of his attendants to make a speech over against him, and that to this man his subjects should incline their ears. It was necessary, too, that the widow who had been increased with gifts beyond measure, should in festal strains return her thanks to God; and so the things which there took place were agreeable to the law.
Dictionary and topics
Crucifixion — A common mode of punishment among heathen nations in early times. It is not certain whether it was known among the ancient Jews; probably it was not. The modes of capital punishment according to the…
Jesus, The Christ · .Is presented in the temple (in — .Is presented in the temple (in
Jews, The · Christ: Expected by — Christ: Expected by
Missionaries, All Christians Should Be As · Exemplified: Anna — Exemplified: Anna
Praise · Exemplified: Anna — Exemplified: Anna
Prophetesses · Anna — Anna
Thanksgiving · Exemplified: Anna — Exemplified: Anna
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
John Gill on Luke 2:38
And she coming in that instant,.... That the parents of Christ brought him into the temple; just as Simeon was embracing him in his arms, and blessing God for him, and saying the things concerning him he had done; and who also came at that juncture, as he did, under the impulse, and by the direction of the Spirit of God,
gave thanks likewise unto the Lord: praised him, as he had done, that he had sent the promised, and long looked for Messiah and Saviour; and that she had lived to see his blessed face, and this happy day; and that she should be directed to come in at this instant, and be favoured with this singular mercy of seeing the new born Saviour, and his honoured parents:
and spake o…
Luke 2:33-39
Luke 2:33-39
33. And his father and mother were wondering about those things which were spoken of him. 34. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this (child) has been set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign, which is spoken against. 35. But also a sword shall pierce thy own soul: that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36. And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she had advanced to a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. 37. And she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple worshipping (God) with fastings an…
she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four: In the ancient world, great age was associated with wisdom and honor. • She never left the Temple: This is probably hyperbole; we might say, “She was there all the time,” reflecting her total dedication to God.