LUKE 2:34 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) and Simeon blessed them and said to Maria, “Listen, this boy has been chosen to cause both the rise and the fall of many people in Yisrael, and sent as a sign but one which many people will oppose.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this one is appointed for the downfall and rising up of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against—

UST Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus’ mother, Mary, “Note well what I say: God has determined that, because of this child, many people in Israel will reject God and many will submit themselves to God. He will be a sign from God that many people will oppose.

BLB And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: "Behold, this Child is appointed for the falling and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against--

AICNT And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed;

OEB Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child’s mother, ‘This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against –

WEBBE Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

WMBB Simeon blessed them, and said to Miriam, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

NET Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.

LSV and Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this [One] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against—

FBV Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject,

TCNT Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, the child's mother, “Behold, this child is appointed to bring about the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

T4T “Note what I say: God has determined that because of this child, many Israeli people will turn away from God, and many others will turn to God [MET]. Although he will be like a sign [MET] to warn people, many people will oppose him.

LEB And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed[fn]—

2:34 Or “rejected”

BBE And Simeon gave them his blessing and said to Mary, his mother, See, this child will be the cause of the downfall and the lifting up of great numbers of people in Israel, and he will be a sign against which hard words will be said;

Moff but Symeon blessed them, and to his mother Mary he said, "This child is destined for the downfall as well as for the rise of many a one in Israel; destined to be a Sign for man's attack —

Wymth Symeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, "This child is appointed for the falling and the uprising of many in Israel and for a token to be spoken against;

ASV and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;

DRA And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;

YLT and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, 'Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against —

Drby And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this [child] is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against;

RV and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;

SLT And Simeon praised them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, he is laid for the fall and rising up of many in Israel; and for a sign spoken against;

Wbstr And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

KJB-1769 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

KJB-1611 And Simeon blessed them, and said vnto Marie his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel: and for a signe which shall be spoken against,
(And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary/Maria his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel: and for a sign which shall be spoken against,)

Bshps And Simeon blessed them, & saide vnto Marie his mother: beholde, this chylde is set to be the fall & vprysyng agayne of many in Israel, & for a signe which is spoken agaynst.
(And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary/Maria his mother: behold, this child is set to be the fall and uprysing again of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.)

Gnva And Simeon blessed them, and saide vnto Mary his mother, Beholde, this childe is appointed for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shalbe spoken against,
(And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against, )

Cvdl And Symeon blessed them, and sayde vnto Mary his mother: Beholde, this (childe) shalbe set to a fall, and to an vprysinge agayne of many in Israel, and for a token, which shalbe spoke agaynst.
(And Symeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother: Behold, this (childe) shall be set to a fall, and to an uprysinge again of many in Israel, and for a token, which shall be spoke against.)

TNT And Simeon blessed them and sayde vnto Mary his mother: beholde this chyld shalbe the fall and resurreccion of many in Israel and a signe which shalbe spoke agaynste.
(And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother: behold this chyld shall be the fall and resurrection of many in Israel and a sign which shall be spoke against. )

Wycl And Symeon blesside hem, and seide to Marie, his modir, Lo! this is set in to the fallyng doun and in to the risyng ayen of many men in Israel, and in to a tokene, to whom it schal be ayenseid.
(And Symeon blessed hem, and said to Mary/Maria, his mother, Lo! this is set in to the falling down and in to the rising again of many men in Israel, and in to a tokene, to whom it shall be againsteid.)

Luth Und Simeon segnete sie und sprach zu Maria, seiner Mutter: Siehe, dieser wird gesetzt zu einem Fall und Auferstehen vieler in Israel und zu einem Zeichen, dem widersprochen wird
(And Simeon blessed they/she/them and spoke to/for Maria, his mother: See/Look, this becomes set(v) to/for on Fall and Auferstehen many in Israel and to/for on sign, to_him againstsprochen becomes)

ClVg Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus: Ecce positus est hic in ruinam et in resurrectionem multorum in Israël, et in signum cui contradicetur:[fn]
(And blessed to_them Simeon, and he/she_said to Mariam mother his: Behold placed it_is this/here in/into/on ruin and in/into/on resurrection of_many in/into/on Israel, and in/into/on sign/signal to_whom contradicetur: )

2.34 Ecce positus est hic. In ruinam illorum qui steterant, et resurrectionem illorum qui ceciderant; vel in ruinam vitiorum, et in resurrectionem virtutum. Non in se tantum, sed in suis quoque prædicatoribus positus est in ruinam et resurrectionem, unde Apostolus: Christi bonus odor sumus Deo, in his qui salvi fiunt, et in his qui pereunt. Bono enim odore, alii salvantur, alii pereunt II Cor. 2..

2.34 Behold placed it_is this/here. In ruin of_them who/which they_had_stood, and resurrection of_them who/which ceciderant; or in/into/on ruin of_vices, and in/into/on resurrection virtues. Not/No in/into/on himself only, but in/into/on to_his_own too preachers placed it_is in/into/on ruin and resurrection, from_where/who Apostolus: of_Christ good/kind/gracious smell we_are to_God, in/into/on his who/which be_saved are_made, and in/into/on his who/which pereunt. Bono because smelle, others saventur, others pereunt II Cor. 2..

UGNT καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, ἰδοὺ, οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον;
(kai eulogaʸsen autous Sumeōn, kai eipen pros Mariam taʸn maʸtera autou, idou, houtos keitai eis ptōsin kai anastasin pollōn en tōi Israaʸl, kai eis saʸmeion antilegomenon;)

SBL-GNT καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ· Ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον,
(kai eulogaʸsen autous Sumeōn kai eipen pros Mariam taʸn maʸtera autou; Idou houtos keitai eis ptōsin kai anastasin pollōn en tōi Israaʸl kai eis saʸmeion antilegomenon,)

RP-GNT Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεών, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, Ἰδού, οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον·
(Kai eulogaʸsen autous Sumeōn, kai eipen pros Mariam taʸn maʸtera autou, Idou, houtos keitai eis ptōsin kai anastasin pollōn en tōi Israaʸl, kai eis saʸmeion antilegomenon;)

TC-GNT Καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς [fn]Συμεών, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, Ἰδού, οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον·
(Kai eulogaʸsen autous Sumeōn, kai eipe pros Mariam taʸn maʸtera autou, Idou, houtos keitai eis ptōsin kai anastasin pollōn en tōi Israaʸl, kai eis saʸmeion antilegomenon; )

2:34 συμεων ¦ σιμεων SCR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:21–40: The baby Jesus at the temple

The events in this section happened some days after Jesus was born.

In 2:21–24, Luke mentioned three ceremonies that were done when Jewish boys were born:

the baby boy was circumcised;
the mother was ritually purified;
the baby boy was presented to God.

In 2:25–38 Luke described two other events that happened while Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were at the temple in Jerusalem. God allowed two righteous people named Simeon and Anna to see Jesus and to thank God for him. Simeon spoke a prophecy about Jesus and Mary.

In 2:39–40 Luke concluded the section. Joseph and Mary took Jesus back to their home in Nazareth, where he grew and became strong and wise. The Gospel of Matthew indicates that before they went to Nazareth, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt and stayed there for some time. Although Luke does not mention this, you should connect the clauses in 2:39 in a way that does not contradict it.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus’ Parents Obey Moses’ Teachings (GW)

Jesus Presented at the Temple (NASB)

Some English versions begin new sections at 2:25 and at 2:36. If you decide to do this in your translation, some possible headings are:

Simeon saw Jesus and prophesied about him (2:25)

Anna thanked God for Jesus and told others about him (2:36)

Simeon’s Prophecy (2:25)

Anna’s Prophecy (2:36)

2:34a

Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

Then Simeon blessed them,^(dual) and he also said to Jesus’ mother, Mary,
Simeon invoked/spoke God’s blessing on Mary and Joseph. Then he said to Mary:

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

Simeon blessed them;
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, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel,

“This child is destined to cause many people in Israel to fall and many others to rise.
“God has planned for this child to cause many people in Israel to be destroyed and many others to be saved.
“Because of this child that God has appointed, God will condemn/destroy many people in Israel, and he will save many other people in Israel.

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 that will be spoken against,

This child is like a sign from God. Many people will speak against him/it.
God also planned for this child to indicate/show his/God’s plan/work, and many people will oppose/reject him.

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.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ

said (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς Συμεών καί εἶπεν πρός Μαριάμ τήν μητέρα αὐτοῦ Ἰδού οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καί ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ καί εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον)

In your translation, make sure that this does not sound as if Mary is the mother of Simeon. Alternate translation: [said to Mary, the child’s mother]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς Συμεών καί εἶπεν πρός Μαριάμ τήν μητέρα αὐτοῦ Ἰδού οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καί ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ καί εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον)

Simeon uses the word Behold to tell Mary that what he is about to say is extremely important to her. Alternate translation: [Now this is important]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ

this_‹one› ˓is˒_appointing for ˓the˒_fall (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς Συμεών καί εἶπεν πρός Μαριάμ τήν μητέρα αὐτοῦ Ἰδού οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καί ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ καί εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον)

The word downfall represents people turning away from God by association with the way they will be ruined as a result. The expression rising up represents people drawing closer to God, by association with they way they will prosper as a result. Alternate translation: [God will use this child to challenge many people of the people of Israel to decide definitively for or against him]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὗτος κεῖται εἰς

this_‹one› ˓is˒_appointing for

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: [God intends to use this child to]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ

˱of˲_many in ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς Συμεών καί εἶπεν πρός Μαριάμ τήν μητέρα αὐτοῦ Ἰδού οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καί ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ καί εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον)

Simeon refers to all of the Israelites as if they were a single person, their ancestor, Israel. Alternate translation: [many of the people of Israel] or [many in the nation of Israel]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σημεῖον

˓a˒_sign

The implication is that the life and ministry of Jesus will be an indication that God is at work to fulfill his purposes through the people of Israel. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [an indication of God’s activity]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀντιλεγόμενον

˓being˒_spoken_against

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: [that many people will speak against]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy