Luke 2:12
Luke 2:12 in Multiple Translations
And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
And this is the sign to you: you will see a young child folded in linen, in the place where the cattle have their food.
You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.
and this [is] to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.'
This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
And this shall be a sign to you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger.
And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
I will tell you how you will recognize him (OR, how you will know that what I say is true): In Bethlehem you will find a baby who has been wrapped {whose mother has wrapped him} in strips of cloth and placed in a trough where people put food for the animals.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Luke 2:12
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Luke 2:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Luke 2:12
Study Notes — Luke 2:12
- Context
- Cross References
- Luke 2:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Luke 2:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 2:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 2:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Luke 2:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 2:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 2:12
- Cambridge Bible on Luke 2:12
- Barnes' Notes on Luke 2:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Luke 2:12
- Sermons on Luke 2:12
Context — The Shepherds and the Angels
12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 7:14 | Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. |
| 2 | Isaiah 53:1–2 | Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. |
| 3 | Isaiah 7:11 | “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.” |
| 4 | Psalms 22:6 | But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 10:2–7 | When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’ Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hands. After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person. When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you. |
| 6 | 2 Kings 19:29 | And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. |
| 7 | 1 Samuel 2:34 | And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day. |
| 8 | 2 Kings 20:8 | Now Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?” |
| 9 | Exodus 3:12 | “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.” |
Luke 2:12 Summary
[This verse, Luke 2:12, tells us that the baby Jesus was born in a very humble and ordinary way, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, which shows us that God is willing to identify with us in our humble circumstances, as seen in Philippians 2:5-8. The sign of the baby in the manger was given to the shepherds to confirm the angel's message about Jesus' birth, similar to the sign given to Ahaz in Isaiah 7:14. This verse is a reminder that God often works in unexpected and humble ways, as noted in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. By looking at the baby Jesus in the manger, we can see the love and humility of God, and be inspired to follow His example, as stated in John 13:15.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the baby being wrapped in swaddling cloths?
The swaddling cloths signify the humble and ordinary circumstances of Jesus' birth, as noted in Luke 2:12, and demonstrate God's willingness to identify with humanity, as seen in Philippians 2:5-8.
Why was the baby lying in a manger?
The manger, mentioned in Luke 2:12, indicates that Jesus was born in a place where animals were fed, symbolizing His role as the Bread of Life, as stated in John 6:35, and highlighting the humble nature of His birth.
What is the purpose of the sign given to the shepherds in Luke 2:12?
The sign of the baby in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, as stated in Luke 2:12, serves as a confirmation of the angel's message about the birth of Jesus Christ, similar to the sign given to Ahaz in Isaiah 7:14, and helps the shepherds identify the Savior.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of the Bible?
This verse, Luke 2:12, is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Micah 5:2-5, which foretells the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, and demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises, as seen throughout the Bible, including in Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 21:1-4.
Reflection Questions
- What does the image of a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger evoke in my heart, and how can I apply this to my own life?
- In what ways can I, like the shepherds, respond in faith and obedience to the signs and messages God gives me in my life?
- How does the humble birth of Jesus, as described in Luke 2:12, impact my understanding of God's character and love for humanity?
- What are some ways I can, like the angel and the heavenly host, proclaim the good news of Jesus' birth and share His love with others?
Gill's Exposition on Luke 2:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 2:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 2:12
Trapp's Commentary on Luke 2:12
Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 2:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 2:12
Cambridge Bible on Luke 2:12
Barnes' Notes on Luke 2:12
Whedon's Commentary on Luke 2:12
Sermons on Luke 2:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Let God Be in You by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God has chosen individuals from seemingly ordinary and unpromising backgrounds to serve Him. He encourages the audience, whether they a |
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Christ the Man #1 by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of learning and remembering spiritual principles. He highlights the story of a man who relied on the Lord and experienced divi |
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God's Four Warnings by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher highlights four significant moments in the Bible where God looked and warned humanity. The first moment is when God created the lights in the heavens t |
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(Guidelines) Fulfilled Prophecy by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker presents fulfilled prophecy as the conclusive proof that the Bible is the Word of God. He explains that one fourth of the Bible is prophetic, denouncing |
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Midrash - Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth by Jacob Prasch | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the belief that God has a son. While acknowledging that God does not have a son in the sense of human procreation, the speaker argues that it |
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First Epistle of John - Part 1 by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning away from a life of sin. He highlights the power of God's forgiveness and the ability to overcome f |
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The Power of Fire by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for a revival of the fire of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. He criticizes the intellectualization and marketing techniques that ha |





