New King James Version
Luke 2:12
12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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 Living Translation (NLT)And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Context of Luke 2:12
10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
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 3:12So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
- 1 Samuel 10:2When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’
- Psalms 22:6But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
- Isaiah 53:1Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries