Luke 2:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →An angel of the Lord appears, the glory of the Lord blazes around the shepherds, and they are terrified.
What Does Luke 2:9 Mean?
Into the darkness comes an angel of the Lord, and with him the glory of the Lord, the radiant brightness that marked God's presence at Sinai and filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), floods the fields. The shepherds are sore afraid; the fear is overwhelming, the honest human response to unveiled heaven.
Glory that once filled the sanctuary now shines over a sheep pasture, because the One that glory attends is lying in a manger nearby. The shepherds' terror is natural; no one stands casually before the living God. But the fear will be met, not mocked. Heaven has not come to destroy these men. It has come to tell them good news.
Luke 2:9 in the Original Language
doxa (δόξα), 'glory' -- radiant splendor, the shining presence of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 2:9
What does Luke 2:9 mean?
An angel of the Lord appears, the glory of the Lord blazes around the shepherds, and they are terrified.