Luke 2:8

Luke 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
• New International Version (NIV)And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Context of Luke 2:8

6While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her baby to be born. 7This was her first baby, and it was a boy. She put cloths around him. Then she put him in an animal's food box. She did this because the rooms for visitors were full of people. That night some shepherds were living out in the fields near Bethlehem. They were keeping their sheep safe. 9Then an angel of the Lord appeared to them. A bright light from God shone all around them. That frightened them very much. 10The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen! I bring you good news. This news will make everyone very happy.

Luke 2:8 word by word

Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·καίkai · andG2532
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• there wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• countryχώραchōra · countryG5561
• shepherdsποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166
• abiding in the fieldἀγραυλέωagrauleō · to live outsideG63
• keepingφυλάσσωphulassō · to keep/guard: protectG5442
• watchφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: watchG5438
• overἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• flockποίμνηpoimnē · flockG4167
• by nightνύξnux · nightG3571

Cross-references for Luke 2:8

• Genesis 31:39If wild animals attacked your sheep or goats, I did not show them to you. I myself paid you for them. If any animal was lost, in the day or at night, you said that I must pay you for it.
• Exodus 3:1Moses worked as a shepherd and he took care of Jethro's sheep. Jethro was his wife's father and he was the priest of Midian. Moses led the sheep to the far side of the desert. He came to Sinai, the mountain of God.
• 1 Samuel 17:34But David said to Saul, ‘Sir, I have been a shepherd who takes care of his father's sheep. Sometimes a lion or a bear would come to take a lamb from among the sheep.
• Psalms 78:70Also, he chose his servant, David. He took David away from the fields,
• Ezekiel 34:8My sheep do not have any shepherds to take care of them. So they are not safe from danger. They have become food for all the wild animals. You, my shepherds, have not gone to look for the sheep that were lost. You only wanted to help yourselves instead of my sheep. So I, the Almighty Lord, promise you this, as surely as I live.
• John 10:8All other men who came before me were like robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them.

Commentaries on Luke 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8There were - shepherds abiding in the field - There is no intimation here that these shepherds were exposed to the open air. They dwelt in the fields where they had their sheep penned up; but they undoubtedly had tents or booths under which they dwelt. Keeping watch - by night - Or, as in the margin, keeping the watches of the night, i.e. each one keeping a watch (which ordinarily consisted of three hours) in his turn. The reason why they watched them in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The same country - Round about Bethlehem. Shepherds - Men who tended flocks of sheep. Abiding in the field - Remaining out of doors, under the open sky, with their flocks. This was commonly done. The climate was mild, and, to keep their flocks from straying, they spent the night with them. It is also a fact that the Jews sent out their flocks into the mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-20Verses 8-20 Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Shepherds were sometimes described in Judaism as wandering people and even as dishonest troublemakers. However, this view was not the same everywhere. In the Old Testament, shepherds are often seen in a positive way (for example, Psalm 23:1). Jesus came to people like these, who were ordinary, poor, and humble. residing in the fields: This detail suggests a warmer time of year, perhaps from March to November, although some shepherds stayed outside all…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-208. abiding in the fields--staying there, probably in huts or tents. watch ... by night--or, night watches, taking their turn of watching. From about passover time in April until autumn, the flocks pastured constantly in the open fields, the shepherds lodging there all that time. (From this it seems plain that the period of the year usually assigned to our Lord's birth is too late). Were these shepherds chosen to have the first sight of the blessed Babe…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 2:8

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Cloud
• Jesus, the Christ
• Mary
• Shepherd

In the dictionaries

• Consolation
• Decree
• Depart
• Devout
• Glory
• Inn
• Jesus
• Lighten
• Pair
• Ponder

Commentaries on Luke 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings