God’s Word Translation
Luke 2:12
12This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
- New International Version (NIV)This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Context of Luke 2:12
10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city. This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!”
Read all of Luke 2Luke 2:12 word by word
καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον· εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- a signὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- a signσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- Ye shall findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- the babeβρέφοςbrephos · infantG1025
- wrapped in swaddling clothesσπαργανόωsparganoō · to wrapG4683
- lyingκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- a mangerφάτνηphatnē · mangerG5336
Cross-references for Luke 2:12
- Exodus 3:12God answered, “I will be with you. And this will be the proof that I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
- 1 Samuel 10:2When you leave me today, two men will be at Rachel’s grave on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They’ll tell you, ‘We’ve found the donkeys you went looking for. Your father no longer cares about them. Instead, he’s worried about you. He keeps asking, “What can I do ⌞to find⌟ my son?” ’
- Psalms 22:6Yet, I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned by humanity and despised by people.
- Isaiah 53:1Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord’s power been revealed?
Commentaries on Luke 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12This shall be a sign (or token) unto you - You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12This shall be a sign - The evidence by which you shall know the child is that you will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.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. 12a sign: Shepherds would notice the contrast between the baby’s security and his lowly circumstances. He was wrapped in strips of cloth, but he was lying in a manger, an animal feeding box. This was unusual and showed that God was at work.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. a sign--"the sign." the babe--"a Babe." a manger--"the manger." The sign was to consist, it seems, solely in the overpowering contrast between the things just said of Him and the lowly condition in which they would find Him--Him whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, "ye shall find a Babe"; whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, "wrapt in swaddling bands"; the "Saviour, Christ the Lord," lying in a manger! Thus early were…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 2:12
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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