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 Mary to have her child. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn. Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.

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 31:39I never brought you any of the flock that was killed by wild animals. I paid for the loss myself. That’s what you demanded of me when any of the flock was stolen during the day or at night.
• Exodus 3:1Moses was taking care of the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. As he led the sheep to the far side of the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
• 1 Samuel 17:34David replied to Saul, “I am a shepherd for my father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
• Psalms 78:70He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens.
• Ezekiel 34:8As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, because there is no shepherd, my sheep have become prey. My sheep have become food for every wild animal. My shepherds haven’t searched for my sheep. They have taken care of only themselves, not my sheep.
• John 10:8All who came before I did were thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond 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