1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah Exalts the Lord in Prayer

2:1 Hannah prayed, ¹ 

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

my horn ²  is exalted high because of the Lord.

I loudly denounce ³  my enemies,

for I am happy that you delivered me. ⁴ 

Jeremiah 49:11

49:11 Leave your orphans behind and I will keep them alive.

Your widows too can depend on me.” ⁵ 

Luke 2:37

2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. ⁶  She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ⁷ 

Luke 2:1

The Census and the Birth of Jesus

2:1 Now ⁸  in those days a decree ⁹  went out from Caesar ¹⁰  Augustus ¹¹  to register ¹²  all the empire ¹³  for taxes.

Luke 2:15

2:15 When ¹⁴  the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem ¹⁵  and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord ¹⁶  has made known to us.”

Luke 5:5

5:5 Simon ¹⁷  answered, ¹⁸  “Master, ¹⁹  we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word ²⁰  I will lower ²¹  the nets.”

Hebrews 11:11

11:11 By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, ²²  he received the ability to procreate, ²³  because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.

[2:1]  ¹ tn Heb “prayed and said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation.

[2:1]  ² sn Horns of animals have always functioned as both offensive and defensive weapons for them. As a figure of speech the horn is therefore often used in the Bible as a symbol of human strength (see also in v. 10). The allusion in v. 1 to the horn being lifted high suggests a picture of an animal elevating its head in a display of strength or virility.

[2:1]  ³ tn Heb “my mouth opens wide against.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “for I rejoice in your deliverance.”

[49:11]  ⁵ tn Or “Their children and relatives will all be destroyed. And none of their neighbors will say, ‘Leave your orphans with me and I’ll keep them alive. Your widows can trust in me.’” This latter interpretation is based on a reading in a couple of the Greek versions (Symmachus and Lucian) and is accepted by a number of the modern commentaries, (J. Bright, J. A. Thompson, W. L. Holladay, and G. L. Keown, P. J. Scalise, T. G. Smothers). However, the majority of modern English versions do not follow it and lacking any other Hebrew or versional evidence it is probable that this is an interpretation to explain the mitigation of what appears as a prophecy of utter annihilation. There have been other cases in Jeremiah where a universal affirmation (either positive or negative) has been modified in the verses that follow. The verb in the second line תִּבְטָחוּ (tivtakhu) is highly unusual; it is a second masculine plural form with a feminine plural subject. The form is explained in GKC 127-28 §47.k and 160-61 §60.a, n. 1 as a pausal substitution for the normal form תִּבְטַחְנָה (tivtakhnah) and a similar form in Ezek 37:7 cited as a parallel.

[2:37]  ⁶ tn Grk “living with her husband for seven years from her virginity and she was a widow for eighty four years.” The chronology of the eighty-four years is unclear, since the final phrase could mean “she was widowed until the age of eighty-four” (so BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.α). However, the more natural way to take the syntax is as a reference to the length of her widowhood, the subject of the clause, in which case Anna was about 105 years old (so D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:251-52; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 123-24).

[2:37]  ⁷ sn The statements about Anna worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day make her extreme piety clear.

[2:1]  ⁸ tn Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[2:1]  ⁹ sn This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.

[2:1]  ¹⁰ tn Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[2:1]  ¹¹ sn Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27 b.c. to a.d. 14. He was known for his administrative prowess.

[2:1]  ¹² tn Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apografesqai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists (BDAG 108 s.v. ἀπογράφω a).

[2:1]  ¹³ tn Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).

[2:15]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:15]  ¹⁵ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[2:15]  ¹⁶ sn Note how although angels delivered the message, it was the Lord whose message is made known, coming through them.

[5:5]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “And Simon.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[5:5]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “answering, Simon said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified in the translation to “Simon answered.”

[5:5]  ¹⁹ tn The word ἐπιστάτης is a term of respect for a person of high status (see L&N 87.50).

[5:5]  ²⁰ tn The expression “at your word,” which shows Peter’s obedience, stands first in the Greek clause for emphasis.

[5:5]  ²¹ tn Or “let down.”

[11:11]  ²² tn Grk “past the time of maturity.”

[11:11]  ²³ tn Grk “power to deposit seed.” Though it is not as likely, some construe this phrase to mean “power to conceive seed,” making the whole verse about Sarah: “by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and too old, she received ability to conceive, because she regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.”