Bible Strands
Luke 2:13
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The angel who delivered the sign of the baby in the manger is immediately joined by a vast assembly of heavenly beings addressing God at that exact moment.
The words — The Greek ἐξαίφνης (exaiphnēs) means "suddenly," marking an abrupt appearance, while πλῆθος στρατιᾶς (plēthos stratias) literally translates to "a multitude of a host."
The thread — This sudden appearance of a heavenly host praising God aligns with the angelic multitudes encircling the throne in Revelation 5:11 and the command to praise God in all His heavenly hosts found in Psalms 148:2.
Why it lands — The text records a direct, unadorned observation of heavenly worship accompanying a divine announcement, requiring the reader to note the immediate context of God's glory and peace before moving to application.
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 suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Cross-references
- Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
- Psalms 103:20 Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
- Psalms 148:2 Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
- 1 Kings 22:19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
- Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
- Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Job 38:7 while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- Daniel 7:10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
- Isaiah 6:2 Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
- Genesis 28:12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.