Bible Strands
Luke 2:20
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The shepherds return to their work immediately after verifying the angel’s announcement about the newborn Messiah. They transition from receiving a divine message to confirming its fulfillment before going back to their flocks.
The words — ὑπέστρεψαν (hupestrepsan) literally means "returned," and δοξάζοντες (doxazontes) translates to "glorifying." These terms mark the shift from divine encounter to tangible response.
The thread — This pattern of confirmed revelation prompting praise appears in Psalms 106:48, Acts 11:18, and 1 Chronicles 29:10. Each passage links verified divine action with the people’s declaration of God’s worth.
Why it lands — The text records the shepherds glorifying and praising God because everything they heard and saw matched the angel’s report. It requires a reader to acknowledge that confirmed divine testimony demands immediate, concrete worship rather than passive reflection.
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 shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Cross-references
- Psalms 106:48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
- Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:10 Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly and said: “May You be blessed, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
- Psalms 72:17 May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
- Isaiah 29:19 The humble will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
- Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
- Psalms 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
- Psalms 107:15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
- Psalms 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
- Luke 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.