Luke 2:20 (KJV)

What does Luke 2:20 mean?

Luke 2:20 describes how the shepherds went back to their daily lives, openly giving glory and praise to God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been announced to them. The verse highlights their joyful response after witnessing the events surrounding Jesus’ birth.

The setting is after the shepherds visited Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, following the angels’ message. The shepherds are not speaking to anyone in particular here; instead, Luke is narrating their actions. Their reaction—publicly glorifying and praising God—shows the impact of what they experienced and confirms that everything happened just as the angels had told them.

The Greek behind Luke 2:20

• "Glorifying" (δοξάζοντες, doxazontes): This word means giving honor or recognizing greatness. In this context, it shows the shepherds’ deep respect and awe for God after what they witnessed.
• "Praising" (αἰνοῦντες, ainountes): This word means expressing approval or admiration, often in song or spoken words. The shepherds’ praise is a joyful, outward expression of what they experienced.
• "Returned" (ὑπέστρεψαν, hupestrepsan): This word means to go back or turn back. The shepherds did not stay at the manger but returned to their regular lives, now changed by what they had seen.
• "As it was told unto them" (καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς, kathōs elalēthē pros autous): This phrase emphasizes that everything happened exactly as the angels had said, underlining the trustworthiness of the message.

Why Luke 2:20 matters

• Luke 2:20 shows that the shepherds’ encounter with Jesus did not end at the manger; it changed their outlook and actions as they returned to their everyday work.
• The verse highlights that the shepherds’ praise was based on both what they heard and what they saw, showing a response to real, personal experience rather than just hearsay.
• This verse connects back to the angel’s announcement, confirming that God’s message was fulfilled exactly as promised, which is a key theme in Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth.