OET interlinear LUKE 2:34

2:34a

Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: There are two actions here:

1. Simeon blessed them;

2. Simeon talked to Mary.

Notice that 2:34b–2:35b is the prophecy that Simeon spoke to Mary. It is not the content of the blessing. Luke did not record the words of the blessing. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that Simeon’s prophecy to Mary was separate from the blessing. One way to do this in English is:

Simeon blessed them, and then he said to Mary

blessed: The word blessed means to ask God to “do good to someone” or “favor someone.” See bless, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

them: The pronoun them refers to Mary and Joseph.

2:34b

Behold: The word that the BSB translates here as Behold is the same word that it translates as “now” in 1:20, as “Behold” in 1:31, and as “Look” in 1:36. Some English versions do not explicitly translate the word. Decide what would be most natural to do in your language.

this Child is appointed to cause: The phrase appointed to cause indicates here that God had planned for Jesus to cause the things described in 2:34b to happen. Jesus would fulfill God’s plan. Some other ways to translate this are:

This child is destined to cause

God has planned for this child to cause

the rise and fall of many in Israel: The phrase the rise and fall of many in Israel, literally “the falling and rising of many in Israel,” refers to what will happen to two groups of people in Israel. One group will fall, and another group will rise. In this context, it indicates that Jesus will cause one group to fall and he will cause the other group to rise.

In some languages, it may be more natural to reverse the order of the words fall and rise. For example:

for the rise of many in Israel and the fall of many others

the rise: The word rise is used as a figure of speech here. It refers to being blessed or saved. This is what would happen to people who accepted Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. Because they believed Jesus, God would bless and save them and allow them to share his glory.

In some languages, a literal translation of this figure of speech would communicate a wrong meaning. If this is true in your language, you should translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example, some other ways to translate the word rise here are:

will be saved (GW)

blessing

fall: The word fall is also used as a figure of speech here. It refers to being condemned or destroyed. This is what would happen to people who refused to believe that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. Because they refuse to believe Jesus, God will judge, condemn, or destroy these people.

In some languages, a literal translation of this figure of speech will communicate a wrong meaning. If this is true in your language, you should translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example, some other ways to translate the word fall here are:

destruction (GNT)

will be condemned (GW)

2:34c–35b

In the Greek text, 2:34c and 2:35b are connected. Some Bibles, including the BSB, NIV, GNT, and NRSV, change the Greek order of the clauses in 2:35a and 2:35b so that 2:35b will immediately follow 2:34c. Other versions, such as the NASB, RSV, and ESV, follow the Greek order. Compare the order of the clauses in the RSV and NIV below:

^34cand for a sign that is spoken against

^35b(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),

^35athat thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. (RSV)

^34cand to be a sign that will be spoken against

^35aso that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

^35bAnd a sword will pierce your own soul too. (NIV)

You should use the order that expresses the meaning in a clear and natural way in your language.

2:34c

and to be a sign: The phrase to be a sign is a second thing that Simeon said to Mary about God’s plan for Jesus. Jesus would also be a sign to people. In some languages, you may need to repeat some information from 2:34b. For example:

God also appointed him to be a sign

He will be a sign from God (GNT)

Connect this part of the verse to the context in a natural way in your language.

a sign: Jesus was like a sign or symbol that indicated that God was beginning to fulfill his promises to Israel.

If you need to translate sign as a verb, one possibility is:

he will indicate/show God’s plan

that will be spoken against: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as spoken against also means “to oppose.” Jesus would be a sign that many people would “oppose” or “speak against.”