Luke 2:30-32
“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
King James Version · quoted from a passage of 3 verses
More of Luke 2 on this siteLuke 2:10-14 · Luke 2:34-35
Simeon holds the infant Jesus and sees God's salvation: a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel, as Isaiah foretold.
Fulfillment References
Isaiah 42:6 Isaiah 49:6 Acts 13:47 Acts 10:45
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalSimeon held a baby and said to God, 'mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' He did not say he had seen someone God would send to save; he saw God's salvation itself. The name says the same: Jesus, 'the LORD saves' (Matt. 1:21). Isaiah had promised a 'light of the Gentiles' (Isa. 42:6; 49:6), and at Cornelius's house the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles too (Acts 10:45).
JewishSimeon's words draw on Isaiah 49:6. Judaism does not accept that Jesus fulfilled them.
CatholicThe Nunc Dimittis, prayed every night in the Church's Night Prayer (Compline).
ProtestantThe Nunc Dimittis, sung in Anglican Evening Prayer. Christ is salvation for Jew and Gentile alike.
OrthodoxSung at Vespers every evening as the Song of Simeon.
DispensationalSalvation to the Gentiles in the church age, and glory to Israel at its national restoration.
AcademicOne of Luke's infancy canticles, built from Isaiah 40-55 (42:6; 49:6; 52:10).
Read all 3 verses in the explorer →
Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Why it was written“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Peter told the first crowd how to begin: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
The new birth → · How to receive the Holy Ghost →
The new birth → · How to receive the Holy Ghost →
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.