Bible Strands
Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Simeon, a godly man in the temple, speaks to God about the infant Jesus, in the sight of all people (v. 31).
The words — φῶς (phōs, "light") names the child's function; ἀποκάλυψιν (apokalupsin, "unveiling, disclosure") is the specific kind of revelation intended for the Gentiles.
The thread — Isaiah 49:6 assigns the Servant to be "a light to the Gentiles"; Acts 26:23 restates the same dual scope: light to "our people and to the Gentiles."
Why it lands — The verse states a mission, not a mood: the child exists to unveil truth to those outside Israel and to bring glory to those inside it. The reader is positioned among the "all people" (v. 31) who hear this and must reckon with what it means.
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
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
- Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Acts 26:23 that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
- Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
- Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
- Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
- Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Isaiah 60:19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
- Matthew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
- Acts 28:28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”