Luke 2:8

The Shepherds’ Visit

2:8 Now ¹  there were shepherds ²  nearby ³  living out in the field, keeping guard ⁴  over their flock at night.

Luke 2:20

2:20 So ⁵  the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising ⁶  God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. ⁷ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[2:8]  ² sn Some argue that shepherds were among the culturally despised, but the evidence for this view of shepherds is late, coming from 5th century Jewish materials. December 25 as the celebrated date of Jesus’ birth arose around the time of Constantine (ca. a.d. 306-337), though it is mentioned in material from Hippolytus (a.d. 165-235). Some think that the reason for celebration on this date was that it coincided with the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, and Christians could celebrate their own festival at this time without fear of persecution. On the basis of the statement that the shepherds were living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night it is often suggested that Jesus’ birth took place in early spring, since it was only at lambing time that shepherds stood guard over their flocks in the field. This is not absolutely certain, however.

[2:8]  ³ tn Grk “in that region.”

[2:8]  ⁴ tn Grk “living in the field (see BDAG 15 s.v. ἀγραυλέω) and guarding their flock.”

[2:20]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.

[2:20]  ⁶ sn The mention of glorifying and praising God is the second note of praise in this section; see Luke 2:13-14.

[2:20]  ⁷ tn Grk “just as [it] had been spoken to them.” This has been simplified in the English translation by making the prepositional phrase (“to them”) the subject of the passive verb.