Luk 2:25-28 | RWP | e4.org | Devout ( ευλαβης ). Used only by Luke ( ; ; ) in the N.T. Common in ancient Greek from Plato on. It means taking hold well or carefully ( ευ and λαβειν ) and so reverently, circumspectly. Looking for the consolation of Israel ( προσδεχομενος παρακλησιν του Ισραελ ). Old Greek verb to admit to one's presence ( ) and then to expect as here and of Anna in verse . Paraklsin here means the Messianic hope ( ; ), calling to one's side for cheer. Upon him ( επ' αυτον ). This is the explanation of his lively Messianic hope. It was due to the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are representatives of real piety in this time of spiritual dearth and deadness.

‏ Luke 2:25-28

Devout ( ευλαβης ). Used only by Luke (Ac 2:5; 8:2; 22:12) in the N.T. Common in ancient Greek from Plato on. It means taking hold well or carefully ( ευ and λαβειν ) and so reverently, circumspectly.

Looking for the consolation of Israel ( προσδεχομενος παρακλησιν του Ισραελ ). Old Greek verb to admit to one's presence (Lu 15:2) and then to expect as here and of Anna in verse 38.

Paraklsin here means the Messianic hope (Isa 11:10; 40:1), calling to one's side for cheer.

Upon him ( επ' αυτον ). This is the explanation of his lively Messianic hope. It was due to the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are representatives of real piety in this time of spiritual dearth and deadness.

It had been revealed unto him ( ην αυτω κεχρηματισμενον ). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative. Common Greek verb. First to transact business from χρημα and that from χραομα, to use, make use of; then to do business with public officials, to give advice (judges, rulers, kings), then to get the advice of the Delphic and other oracles (Diodorus, Plutarch). The LXX and Josephus use it of God's commands. A Fayum papyrus of 257 B.C. has the substantive χρημαστισμος for a divine response (cf. Ro 11:4). See Deissmann, Light From the Ancient East, p. 153.

Before ( πριν η ). Classic Greek idiom after a negative to have subjunctive as here (only example in the N.T.) or the optative after past tense as in Ac 25:16 (subjunctive changed to optative in indirect discourse). Elsewhere in the N.T. the infinitive follows πριν as in Mt 1:18.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus ( εν τω εισαγαγειν τους γονεις το παιδιον Ιησουν ). A neat Greek and Hebrew idiom difficult to render into English, very common in the LXX;

In the bringing the Child Jesus as to the parents. The articular infinitive and two accusatives (one the object, the other accusative of general reference).

After the custom of the law ( κατα το ειθισμενον του νομου ). Here the perfect passive participle ειθισμενον, neuter singular from εθιζω (common Greek verb, to accustom) is used as a virtual substantive like το εθος in 1:8. Luke alone in the N.T. uses either word save εθος in Joh 19:40, though ειωθα from εθω, occurs also in Mt 27:15; Mr 10:1.

Then he ( κα αυτος ). Κα as in 2:21. Αυτος, emphatic subject, he after the parents.

Arms ( αγκαλας ). Old Greek word, here only in the N.T. It means the curve or inner angle of the arm.