Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 2:9
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
9. And lo ] The phrase often introduces some strange or memorable event.
the angel ] Rather, an Angel.
came upon them ] Epest a common word in St Luke, who uses it eighteen times, Luk 24:4; Act 12:7, &c. It may mean stood by them.
the glory of the Lord ] The Shechinah, or cloud of brightness which symbolised the Divine Presence, as in Exo 24:16 ; 1Ki 8:10; Isa 6:1-3; Act 7:55. See on Luk 1:35. The presence of the Shechinah was reckoned as one of the most precious blessings of Israel, Rom 9:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The glory of the Lord – This is the same as a great glory – that is, a splendid appearance or light. The word glory is often the same as light, 1Co 15:41; Luk 9:31; Act 22:11. The words Lord and God are often used to denote greatness or intensity. Thus, trees of God mean great trees; hills of God, high or lofty hills, etc. So the glory of the Lord here means an exceedingly great or bright luminous appearance perhaps not unlike what Paul saw on the way to Damascus.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. The angel of the Lord came upon them] Or, stood over them, . It is likely that the angel appeared in the air at some little distance above them, and that from him the rays of the glory of the Lord shone round about them, as the rays of light are protected from the sun.
They were sore afraid.] Terrified with the appearance of so glorious a being, and probably fearing that he was a messenger of justice, coming to denounce Divine judgments, or punish them immediately, for sins with which their consciences would not fail, on such an occasion, to reproach them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Christ was promised to men who by their occupation were shepherds, Gen 47:3. He himself was the chief Shepherd, and the true Shepherd, Joh 10:11. The first publication of his birth is made to shepherds; not to shepherds that were idle, but busied in their honest vocations, keeping their flocks. This publication of his birth is made by an angel, whether the angel Gabriel before mentioned, or another, is not certain. This angel surprises the shepherds, cometh upon them thinking no such thing, but only minding their business. The angel comes in a glorious appearance, probably an extraordinary light, for it is said, it
shone round about them: such an appearance of extraordinary light is Luk 9:31,32. That
they were sore afraid was but natural; we are naturally affected at sudden and unusual appearances with fear and amazement.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. glory of the Lord“thebrightness or glory which is represented as encompassing all heavenlyvisions” [OLSHAUSEN].
sore afraidSo it everwas (Dan 10:7; Dan 10:8;Luk 1:12; Rev 1:17).Men have never felt easy with the invisible world laid suddenly opento their gaze. It was never meant to be permanent; a momentarypurpose was all it was intended to serve.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And lo, the angel of the Lord,…. It may be Gabriel, who had brought the tidings of the conception of the Messiah to the virgin, and now the birth of him to the shepherds:
came upon them; on a sudden, unexpectedly, at once, and stood by them, as some versions read; or rather, stood over them, over their heads, just above them; so that he was easily and perfectly seen by them;
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; or a very glorious and extraordinary light shone with surprising lustre and brightness all around them; by which light, they could discern the illustrious form of the angel that was over them:
and they were sore afraid; at the sight of such a personage, and at such unusual light and glory about them: they were not used to such appearances, and were awed with the majesty of God, of which these were symbols, and were conscious to themselves of their own sinfulness and frailty.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Stood by them ( ). Ingressive aorist active indicative. Stepped by their side. The same word in Ac 12:7 of the angel there. Paul uses it in the sense of standing by in Ac 22:20. It is a common old Greek word, .
Were sore afraid ( ). First aorist passive indicative with cognate accusative (the passive sense gone), they feared a great fear.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Behold. Omitted by the best texts.
The angel. More correctly an angel, as Rev. The Greek has no article. Came upon [] . The word is used in this sense in classical Greek, as well as in that of to stand by, which Rev. prefers here, as in Act 12:7. In verse 38 of this chapter, Rev. renders coming up. The rendering to come upon has a hostile flavor, as properly in Act 17:5, where the verb is rendered assaulted; so that the Rev. rendering here is preferable. They were sore afraid. Lit., feared with great fear.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,” (kai angelos kuriou epeste autois) “And an angel of the Lord came upon them,” upon or stood by the shepherds in the fields that night, not to the Pharisees, or Scribes, or Priests in Jerusalem, but to bring the shepherds heavenly news, long awaited Israel, Heb 1:14.
2) “And the glory of the Lord shone round about them:” (kai diksa kuriou perielampsen autous) “And the glory of the Lord shone around and upon them,” a result of the glory-bearing messenger. The glory-shining was evidently the Shechinah light, that s often appeared to Israel in ancient times, in the holy of holies and as a pillar of fire, Exo 13:21-22; Neh 9:19.
3) “And they were sore afraid.” (kai ephobethesa phobon megan) “And they feared (were afraid exceedingly,” at the presence of the holy messenger as they were taught to be, with reverential awe, Psa 34:9; Ecc 12:13; Mal 3:16-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them He says, that the glory of the Lord (145) shone around the shepherds, by which they perceived him to be an angel. (146) For it would have been of little avail to be told by an angel what is related by Luke, if God had not testified, by some outward sign, that what they heard proceeded from Him. The angel appeared, not in an ordinary form, or without majesty, but surrounded with the brightness of heavenly glory, to affect powerfully the minds of the shepherds, that they might receive the discourse which was addressed to them, as coming from the mouth of God himself. Hence the fear, of which Luke shortly afterwards speaks, by which God usually humbles the hearts of men, (as I have formerly explained,) and disposes them to receive his word with reverence.
(145) “ La clarte du Seigneur;” — “the brightness of the Lord.”
(146) “ c’a este afin qu’ils cogneussent que c’estoit l’ange de Dieu qui parloit;” — “it was in order that they might know that it was the angel of the Lord that spoke.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) Came upon them.The Greek verb, like the English, implies a sudden appearance. The form of the angel was probably, as in Mar. 16:5, that of a young man in white apparel. (See Note on Luk. 1:12). The wings of angels are, without exception, an after-thought of Christian imagination, those of Isa. 6:2, Eze. 1:6, Rev. 4:8, being connected with the mysterious figures of the cherubim, the living creatures seen in apocalyptic vision.
The glory of the Lord . . .The word suggests the thought of the Shechinah, or cloud of intolerable brightness, which was the token of the divine presence in the Tabernacle and the Temple (1Ki. 8:10-11; Isa. 6:1-3). (See Note on Joh. 1:14.) Never before had there been such a manifestation to such men as these. What had been the privilege of patriarchs and priests was now granted to shepherds, and the first proclamation of the glad tidings was to those who were poor in their outward life as well as in spirit.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. The angel An angel. No particular angel is specified.
Came upon Expressive of more suddenness than appeared to them would be.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were very much afraid.’
As they sat around talking, and peering every now and again into the darkness for any sign of savage beasts, they must have been greatly astonished when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, especially as, with his presence, the glory of the Lord shone around them.
Had God wanted us to know who this angel was He would have told us. Idle speculation therefore is useless. But all knew what ‘the glory of the Lord’ represented. This was God revealing Himself in the Shekinah, the revealing of His glory long awaited by Israel, as a foretaste of what was to come. It would be next revealed at the Transfiguration (Luk 9:29; Mat 17:2; Mat 17:5). And then at the Resurrection (Mat 28:3-4). It was in direct contrast with the darkness which accompanied the cross, when the light appeared to be going out. Such a revelation from God must have been terrifying to those poor men. It would be the last thing that they were expecting. So ‘they were terrified’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 2:9. Came upon them Stood over them, , hovered in the air over their heads, surrounded with a glorious effulgence; like that Shechinah, which, during the tabernacle, and the temple of Solomon, was the symbol of the divine presence.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Ver. 9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord ] Gabriel, likely, was sent, not to Zacharias or Simeon, &c., but to certain shepherds. God goes a way by himself, Had the sages of the East met with these shepherds, they had received better intelligence than they did from the learned scribes.
And the glory of the Lord ] As when a king’s son is born, bonfires are made, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
9. ] the brightness of God’s presence the Shechinah (see reff.) which also accompanied His angels when they appeared to men. It is agreeable at least to the analogy of the divine dealings, to suppose with Olshausen, that these shepherds, like Symeon, were waiting for the consolation of Israel .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 2:9 . , used elsewhere by Lk. in reference to angelic appearances, eighteen times in his writings in all = stood beside; one more than their number, suddenly. : here and in Act 26:13 , only, in N. T. = shone around. , they feared greatly; yet they were not utterly unprepared, their thoughts had been of a Divine gracious visitation waiting for the consolation of Israel; subjective and objective corresponding.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), to call attention to the wondrous event.
the angel = an angel. No Art. See note on Luk 1:11. App-179.
LORD = Jehovah (App-98).
came upon = stood by. Greek. ephistemi. Used eighteen times by Luke. Compare Luk 24:4. Act 12:7; Act 23:11.
the glory: the Shekinah, which symbolized the Divine presence. See Exo 24:16. 1Ki 8:10. Isa 6:1-3. Act 7:55.
were sore afraid = feared a great fear. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6. See note on Gen 26:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
9.] -the brightness of Gods presence-the Shechinah (see reff.) which also accompanied His angels when they appeared to men. It is agreeable at least to the analogy of the divine dealings, to suppose with Olshausen, that these shepherds, like Symeon, were waiting for the consolation of Israel.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 2:9. , the angel) In every instance of Christs humiliation, measures were taken by a kind of befitting protest [precaution against His humility causing His divinity to be lost sight of], to secure the recognition of His divine glory. In this passage this was effected by the announcement of the angel: in His circumcision, by means of the giving to Him the name Jesus [= God Saviour]: in His purification, by the testimony of Simeon: in His baptism, by the objection John the Baptist raised [John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, etc., Mat 3:14]: in His passion, by ways and means far exceeding in number all the previous instances.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
angel
(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
lo: Luk 1:11, Luk 1:28, Jdg 6:11, Jdg 6:12, Mat 1:20, Act 27:23, 1Ti 3:16
and the: Exo 16:7, Exo 16:10, Exo 40:34, Exo 40:35, 1Ki 8:11, Isa 6:3, Isa 35:2, Isa 40:5, Isa 60:1, Eze 3:23, Joh 12:41, 2Co 3:18, 2Co 4:6, Rev 18:1
and they: Luk 1:12, Isa 6:4, Isa 6:5, Act 22:6-9, Act 26:13, Act 26:14, Heb 12:21, Rev 20:11
Reciprocal: Gen 28:17 – he was Joh 1:51 – and the Heb 1:6 – And let Heb 1:14 – ministering
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Sore afraid means they were greatly frightened by the unexpected appearance of a person out there in the darkness of the night.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 2:9. An angel, not the angel.
Stood by. This indicates a sudden but actual appearance; not a vision. The angel may have been above them, but this is not stated. The shepherds may have been in a state of peculiar susceptibility, as pious men, in the quiet night, under the starry heavens, where David first sang as he watched his flock; but this will not account for the story before us.
The glory of the Lord. The Shekinah, the brightness of Gods presence, so often spoken of in the Old Testament. This accompanied the angel, both to reveal his presence in the night and to attest his authority.
And they were sore afraid. Lit., feared a great fear. The usual effect of angelic appearances, enhanced in this case by the supernatural brightness.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Luk 2:9-12. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them , stood over them, that is, appeared in a visible form, standing in the air over their heads; and the glory of the Lord shone round about them Not only a great light, but such a glorious splendour as used to represent the presence of God, and was often attended with a host of angels, as here, Luk 2:13. And they were sore afraid At so uncommon and so awful an appearance. And the angel said In the mildest and most condescending manner; Fear not Thus the angel Gabriel had encouraged Zacharias and Mary, Luk 1:12; Luk 1:30. As if he had said, The design of my appearing to you hath nothing terrible in it, but the contrary: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy The original expression here is peculiar, , I evangelize unto you great joy. So the Vulgate. Or, I announce unto you good tidings, which shall be matter of great joy, and that not only to you, and the Jewish nation in general, but to all people, to the whole human race: for unto you, and all mankind, is born this day, this welcome, blessed day, a Saviour That Isaiah , 1 st, A Deliverer from ignorance and folly, from guilt, condemnation, and wrath, from depravity and weakness, in which the whole human race are involved through the fall of their first parents and their own actual transgressions; in other words, from sin, and all its consequences: 2d, A Restorer (so also means) to the favour and image of God, and communion with him, lost by the same fall: and, 3d, A Preserver, (as the same word also implies,) namely, unto eternal life; one as willing as able to keep such as perseveringly believe in him, through faith, unto final salvation; to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Who is Christ The Messiah, the divinely appointed Prophet, Priest, and King of his people; their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and who is sufficiently qualified to sustain these unspeakably important offices and characters, because he is the Lord, God as well as man, God manifest in the flesh, the Lord that in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth, &c., Heb 1:10; and without whom was not any thing made that was made, Joh 1:3; Col 1:16. The message refers to Isa 9:6, Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And this shall be a sign unto you The angel gives them a sign for the confirmation of their faith in this important matter. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, &c. Doubtless they would expect to be told that they should find him, though a babe, dressed up in fine robes, and lying in state, in the best house of the town, with a numerous train of attendants: no, you will find him lying in a manger. And surely they might know him by this token, for what other babe could be found in so mean a condition? For the shepherds to have found the Messiah lying in a manger, might have scandalized them. It was therefore very proper that the angel should forewarn them of this circumstance, and make it the signal whereby they should distinguish him. When Christ was here on earth, he distinguished himself, and made himself remarkable, by nothing so much as the instances of his humiliation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 9
Glory of the Lord; a supernatural light.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord {e} came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
(e) Came suddenly upon them, when they were not at all thinking about such a matter.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
A single angel appeared to the shepherds first. Luke did not identify him by name, perhaps to focus attention on his message. Later a multitude of other angels joined him (Luk 2:13). The appearance of the angel and the accompanying manifestation of God’s glory terrified the shepherds (cf. Luk 1:12; Luk 9:34; Ezekiel 1; Act 12:7).