Bible Strands
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The angel addresses the terrified shepherds immediately after the Lord’s glory illuminates the scene. This announcement directly precedes the declaration that a Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born in the city of David.
The words — The Greek phrase μὴ φοβεῖσθε (mē phobeisthe) literally commands “do not fear,” while ἰδοὺ (idou) translates to “behold” or “look.” These terms structurally shift the narrative from the shepherds’ terror to the announcement of universal joy.
The thread — The angel’s declaration of “good news” aligns with the heralding of glad tidings in Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah 52:7, and Isaiah 61:1. These passages establish a prophetic pattern of announcing divine intervention to a waiting people.
Why it lands — The text commands the listeners to cease fearing and pay attention before revealing a message intended for all people. Readers must acknowledge that the announced salvation is explicitly universal rather than limited to a specific group.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 40:9 Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
- Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
- Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Matthew 14:27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Luke 1:30 So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Acts 13:32 And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
- Isaiah 41:27 I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
- Luke 1:19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.