Luke 2:11-12

2:11 Today ¹  your Savior is born in the city ²  of David. ³  He is Christ ⁴  the Lord. 2:12 This ⁵  will be a sign ⁶  for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” ⁷ 

¹ sn The Greek word for today (σήμερον, shmeron) occurs eleven times in the Gospel of Luke (2:11; 4:21; 5:26; 12:28; 13:32-33; 19:5, 9; 22:34, 61; 23:43) and nine times in Acts. Its use, especially in passages such as 2:11, 4:21, 5:26; 19:5, 9, signifies the dawning of the era of messianic salvation and the fulfillment of the plan of God. Not only does it underscore the idea of present fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry, but it also indicates salvific fulfillment present in the church (cf. Acts 1:6; 3:18; D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:412; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 873).

² tn Or “town.” See the note on “city” in v. 4.

³ tn This is another indication of a royal, messianic connection.

⁴ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

⁵ tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ sn The sign functions for the shepherds like Elizabeth’s conception served for Mary in 1:36.

⁷ tn Or “a feeding trough,” see Luke 2:7.