Luke 2:28-30

2:28 Simeon ¹  took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, ² 

2:29 “Now, according to your word, ³  Sovereign Lord, ⁴  permit ⁵  your servant ⁶  to depart ⁷  in peace.

2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation ⁸ 

[2:28]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Simeon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:28]  ² tn Grk “and said.” The finite verb in Greek has been replaced with a participle in English to improve the smoothness of the translation.

[2:29]  ³ sn The phrase according to your word again emphasizes that God will perform his promise.

[2:29]  ⁴ tn The Greek word translated here by “Sovereign Lord” is δεσπότης (despoth").

[2:29]  ⁵ sn This short prophetic declaration is sometimes called the Nunc dimittis, which comes from the opening phrase of the saying in Latin, “now dismiss,” a fairly literal translation of the Greek verb ἀπολύεις (apolueis, “now release”) in this verse.

[2:29]  ⁶ tn Here the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos, “slave”) has been translated “servant” since it acts almost as an honorific term for one specially chosen and appointed to carry out the Lord’s tasks.

[2:29]  ⁷ tn Grk “now release your servant.”

[2:30]  ⁸ sn To see Jesus, the Messiah, is to see God’s salvation.