Luk 2:29-32 | RWP | e4.org | Now lettest thou ( νυν απολυεις ). Present active indicative, Thou art letting . The Nunc Dimittis , adoration and praise. It is full of rapture and vivid intensity (Plummer) like the best of the Psalms. The verb απολυω was common for the manumission of slaves and Simeon here calls himself "thy slave ( δουλον σου ), Lord ( Δεσποτα , our despot)." See .

‏ Luke 2:29-32

Now lettest thou ( νυν απολυεις ). Present active indicative,

Thou art letting. The Nunc Dimittis, adoration and praise. It is full of rapture and vivid intensity (Plummer) like the best of the Psalms. The verb απολυω was common for the manumission of slaves and Simeon here calls himself "thy slave ( δουλον σου ), Lord ( Δεσποτα, our despot)." See 2Pe 2:1.

Of all the peoples ( παντων των λαων ). Not merely Jews. Another illustration of the universality of Luke's Gospel seen already in 1:70 in the hymn of Zacharias. The second strophe of the song according to Plummer showing what the Messiah will be to the world after having shown what the Messiah is to Simeon.

Revelation to the Gentiles ( αποκαλυψιν εθνων ). Objective genitive. The Messiah is to be light ( φως ) for the Gentiles in darkness (1:70) and glory ( δοξα ) for Israel (cf. Ro 9:1-5; Isa 49:6). The word εθνος originally meant just a crowd or company, then a race or nation, then the nations other than Israel (the people, ο λαος ) or the people of God. The word Gentile is Latin from gens, a tribe or nation. But the world-wide mission of the Messiah comes out clearly in these early chapters in Luke.