Luke 2:17

KJV

And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} when they had seen {G1492} it, they made known abroad {G1232} the saying {G4012}{G4487} which {G3588} was told {G2980} them {G846} concerning {G4012} this {G5127} child {G3813}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child;

Berean Standard Bible

After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.

American Standard Version

And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The shepherds, having personally witnessed the newborn Messiah in Bethlehem as announced by the angels, did not keep this miraculous revelation to themselves. Instead, filled with awe and wonder, they immediately became the first human evangelists, actively disseminating the extraordinary news about the divine child throughout the surrounding region, thereby initiating the spread of the Gospel message.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in Luke's Nativity narrative, following the dramatic angelic announcement to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem in [Luke 2:8-12](/luke/2-8-12 "The Angelic Announcement to the Shepherds"). After receiving this heavenly message and witnessing the glorious praise of the heavenly host in [Luke 2:13-14](/luke/2-13-14 "The Heavenly Host Praises God"), the shepherds respond with immediate obedience and eager anticipation, saying, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us" ([Luke 2:15](/luke/2-15 "Shepherds Go to Bethlehem")). Their subsequent discovery of Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger, exactly as described ([Luke 2:16](/luke/2-16 "Shepherds Find Jesus in the Manger")), validates the divine message. Verse 17 marks their transition from passive recipients of revelation to active, joyful proclaimers, setting the stage for Mary's contemplative response in [Luke 2:19](/luke/2-19 "Mary Ponders These Things").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Shepherds in ancient Israel were often marginalized figures, considered low in social status and sometimes ritually unclean due to their constant outdoor life and contact with animals. Yet, God chose these humble individuals to be the first human recipients of the Messiah's birth announcement, underscoring a key Lukan theme of God's favor for the lowly and outcast. Their immediate and public proclamation would have been unusual for their social standing, but it reflects the profound impact of their divine encounter. Bethlehem, a small town with deep Old Testament significance as the birthplace of King David ([1_samuel/16-1-13](/1-samuel/16-13 "Samuel Anoints David")), was a familiar locale, making the shepherds' testimony relatable to the local populace. The "saying" they spread would have been extraordinary news in a world long awaiting the Messiah.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 2:17 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the broader narrative of Luke's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Revelation and Human Response**, demonstrating how God chooses unexpected individuals to receive and then disseminate His truth. The shepherds' immediate and enthusiastic sharing exemplifies a proper response to God's saving work. Secondly, it emphasizes **Witness and Testimony**, as the shepherds become the first human witnesses to the fulfillment of the prophetic word concerning the Messiah's birth. Their "seeing it" confirmed the angelic message, lending credibility to their subsequent proclamation. Lastly, the verse underscores the theme of **Proclamation and Evangelism**, as the phrase "made known abroad" signifies their immediate and widespread sharing of the incredible news. This spontaneous evangelism, spreading the "saying which was told them concerning this child," foreshadows the global mission that will characterize the early church as depicted in [Acts/1-8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission and the Holy Spirit"), demonstrating the contagious nature of the Gospel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **seen (Greek, _eídō'_):** This primary verb, used here in the perfect tense, signifies not merely a superficial glance but a profound act of perception leading to knowledge and understanding. The shepherds "saw" Jesus in a way that confirmed the angelic message, transforming their belief into a personal, verifiable truth. It implies a direct, experiential knowledge that compelled their subsequent actions.
* **made known abroad (Greek, _diagnōrízō'_):** This compound verb, derived from "through" (dia) and "to make known" (gnōrizō), emphasizes a thorough, widespread, and public declaration. It suggests active dissemination of information, not just a quiet whisper. The shepherds did not keep the news confined but actively spread it throughout the region, acting as heralds of the Messiah's arrival.
* **child (Greek, _paidíon'_):** This diminutive noun refers to a "childling," often an infant or young child. Its use here emphasizes the humility and vulnerability of the newborn Messiah. The shepherds were proclaiming the significance of a seemingly ordinary, helpless infant, highlighting the paradox of God's power manifest in weakness, a theme central to the incarnation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they had seen [it]":** This clause indicates the pivotal moment of verification. The shepherds' physical encounter with the infant Jesus in the manger, precisely as described by the angel, served as the undeniable confirmation of the divine message. Their seeing was not just observation but an act of profound recognition and understanding, solidifying their faith in the angelic proclamation.
* **"they made known abroad":** This phrase describes the shepherds' immediate and enthusiastic response to their experience. The Greek term implies a public, widespread, and active declaration, indicating that they did not hesitate or keep the news to themselves. Their joy and conviction compelled them to share this extraordinary event with everyone they encountered.
* **"the saying which was told them concerning this child":** This specifies the content of their proclamation. They were not merely sharing a personal opinion or a vague wonder, but the precise message they had received from the angels – the "good tidings of great joy" concerning the birth of "a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" ([Luke/2-10-11](/luke/2-10-11 "Luke 2:10-11 - The Angel's Message")). Their testimony was a faithful recounting of God's revealed truth about the identity and significance of the newborn Jesus.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 2:17 employs several literary devices that enhance its impact. The most prominent is **Foreshadowing**, as the shepherds' immediate and widespread proclamation of Jesus' birth anticipates the global evangelistic mission that will characterize the early church. Their spontaneous "making known abroad" mirrors the future spreading of the Gospel by the apostles and subsequent believers. There is also an element of **Irony** in God choosing humble, marginalized shepherds, rather than religious elites or powerful rulers, to be the first human heralds of the Messiah. This choice subverts societal expectations and highlights God's preference for the lowly. Furthermore, the narrative uses **Contrast** between the heavenly host's majestic praise in [Luke 2:13-14](/luke/2-13-14 "The Heavenly Host's Praise") and the humble, earthly setting of the shepherds' proclamation, yet both contribute to the same divine purpose of announcing the Savior's arrival. The verse also functions as a form of **Witness Testimony**, validating the truth of the angelic announcement through human experience and subsequent declaration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 2:17 serves as a foundational text illustrating the intrinsic link between encountering God's truth and proclaiming it. The shepherds' immediate response to "seeing" the Christ child and then "making known abroad" the divine "saying" establishes a pattern for all who genuinely encounter the living God: revelation demands response, and that response often takes the form of testimony. This act of spontaneous evangelism by the shepherds, humble and unlearned as they were, underscores God's method of using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary divine purposes, bypassing traditional religious hierarchies to spread the most significant news in human history. Their actions highlight that the Gospel is not meant to be hoarded but joyfully shared, setting a precedent for the contagious nature of faith.

* [Psalm 66:16](/psalm/66-16 "Psalm 66:16 - Come and Hear")
* [Acts 4:20](/acts/4-20 "Acts 4:20 - We Cannot But Speak")
* [Romans 10:14](/romans/10-14 "Romans 10:14 - How Shall They Hear Without a Preacher?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The shepherds' response in Luke 2:17 offers a profound and timeless model for believers today. Their immediate and unreserved proclamation after encountering the Christ child challenges us to consider our own response to the good news of Jesus. Like them, we have "seen" (through faith and the witness of Scripture) the reality of Christ's saving work. The call to "make known abroad" is not reserved for a select few, but is an inherent outflow of a genuine encounter with God. This verse encourages us to move beyond passive reception of spiritual truths to active participation in sharing them. It reminds us that our personal testimony, coupled with the clear message of the Gospel, holds immense power. The shepherds, humble and ordinary, became God's first human messengers of the Nativity, demonstrating that God uses willing hearts, regardless of their social standing or theological training, to spread His kingdom. Their joy and urgency should inspire us to embrace our own call to witness, recognizing that the world desperately needs to hear "the saying which was told them concerning this child."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "saying concerning this child" have you personally witnessed or experienced that you are compelled to share?**
* **In what ways can you, like the shepherds, "make known abroad" the good news of Jesus in your daily life and spheres of influence?**
* **What hesitations or fears might prevent you from sharing your faith, and how can you overcome them with the shepherds' boldness?**

### FAQ
**Q: Why were shepherds chosen to be the first to hear about Jesus' birth and then proclaim it?**

Answer: The choice of shepherds is highly significant and reflects several theological themes. Firstly, it underscores God's preference for the humble and marginalized, a recurring motif in Luke's Gospel. Shepherds were often considered low-status and ritually unclean, yet God chose them over religious or political elites to receive this monumental revelation. This highlights that God's grace is not based on human merit or social standing. Secondly, it emphasizes the universal nature of the Gospel message; it's for everyone, not just a select few. Thirdly, it may subtly connect Jesus to the lineage of David, who was also a shepherd from Bethlehem, foreshadowing Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" ([John/10-11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus the Good Shepherd")) for His people. Their immediate proclamation also demonstrates that God uses ordinary people to spread His extraordinary message, setting a precedent for the early church's mission.

**Q: What does "made known abroad" imply about the shepherds' actions?**

Answer: The phrase "made known abroad" (Greek: _diagnōrízō_) implies a public, widespread, and active declaration, not a quiet or private sharing. It suggests that the shepherds did not merely tell a few friends, but actively disseminated the news throughout the region, possibly to anyone who would listen in Bethlehem and the surrounding countryside. This was a bold and enthusiastic proclamation, driven by the profound impact of their divine encounter and the verification of the angelic message. It signifies their role as the first human evangelists of the Nativity, demonstrating an immediate and unreserved response to the miraculous event they had witnessed. Their actions were a direct, joyful overflow of what they had seen and heard, setting a precedent for the urgency and expansiveness of Gospel proclamation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 2:17, though describing the shepherds' initial proclamation of the infant Jesus, profoundly points to the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The "saying which was told them concerning this child" was not merely about a baby's birth, but about the arrival of the "Savior, who is Christ the Lord" ([Luke/2-11](/luke/2-11 "Luke 2:11 - The Savior, Christ the Lord")). The shepherds, in their simple act of "making known abroad," were unknowingly participating in the grand narrative of God revealing His Son to the world, a revelation that would culminate in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. Their testimony foreshadows the ultimate mission of the church: to proclaim Jesus as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the [resurrected Lord](/romans/10-9 "Romans 10:9 - Confess Jesus as Lord"), and the [only way to the Father](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus the Way, Truth, and Life"). Just as the shepherds could not contain the joy of seeing the infant Messiah, so believers today are compelled by the Holy Spirit to declare the complete Gospel message of Christ's atoning work on the cross and His victorious resurrection, inviting all to believe in the one concerning whom the angels first spoke and for whom [all Scripture testifies](/john/5-39 "John 5:39 - Search the Scriptures").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 8:39

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Psalms 66:16

Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Psalms 71:17

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Psalms 71:18

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.

Malachi 3:16

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Luke 2:38

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Psalms 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.