Luke 2:20

KJV

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the shepherds {G4166} returned {G1994}, glorifying {G1392} and {G2532} praising {G134} God {G2316} for {G1909} all the things {G3956} that {G3739} they had heard {G191} and {G2532} seen {G1492}, as {G2531} it was told {G2980} unto {G4314} them {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.

Berean Standard Bible

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

American Standard Version

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 2:20 beautifully encapsulates the profound spiritual response of the shepherds following their encounter with the newborn Savior in Bethlehem. Having witnessed the miraculous events and confirmed the angelic pronouncement, they returned to their daily lives not with mere wonder, but with hearts overflowing with active glorification and praise to God, recognizing the divine fulfillment of His promises in the Christ child.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 2:20 serves as the culminating point of the shepherds' narrative within Luke's Nativity account. It immediately follows their visit to the manger where they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, precisely as the angel had described ([Luke 2:16](/luke/2-16 "Luke 2:16 - Shepherds Find Jesus")). After seeing Jesus, they immediately "made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child" ([Luke 2:17](/luke/2-17 "Luke 2:17 - Shepherds Spread the Word")), causing all who heard to wonder ([Luke 2:18](/luke/2-18 "Luke 2:18 - All Wonder at the Shepherds' Words")). This verse, therefore, marks their departure from the scene, but not merely a physical return; it signifies a spiritual transformation and a profound act of worship that concludes their pivotal role in the initial revelation of Christ. It contrasts with Mary's quiet contemplation in [Luke 2:19](/luke/2-19 "Luke 2:19 - Mary Ponders These Things"), highlighting different, yet equally valid, responses to the divine.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Shepherds in ancient Israel were often marginalized, considered of low social standing and ritually unclean due to their nomadic lifestyle and constant exposure to animals. Yet, it was to these humble, overlooked individuals that God chose to reveal the momentous news of the Savior's birth, bypassing the religious elite and powerful rulers. This choice underscores a key Lukan theme: God's favor for the humble and outcast. The angelic announcement occurred "while they were keeping watch over their flock by night" ([Luke 2:8](/luke/2-8 "Luke 2:8 - Shepherds in the Fields")), a common practice to protect sheep from predators. Their journey to Bethlehem, though short, was an act of faith and obedience, driven by the extraordinary message they received. Their subsequent return, "glorifying and praising God," was a public and uninhibited expression of worship, unusual for their social class but entirely fitting for such a divine encounter.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several major themes woven throughout Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Revelation and Confirmation**. The shepherds' experience validates the angelic message, confirming that God's word is true and reliable ("as it was told unto them"). This echoes God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, a theme seen from the prophecies in [Isaiah 7:14](/isaiah/7-14 "Isaiah 7:14 - Prophecy of Immanuel") and [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem's Ruler"). Secondly, it emphasizes **Worship and Adoration as a Proper Response to God's Acts**. The shepherds' glorifying and praising God is a model of heartfelt worship, reflecting the angelic chorus's praise in [Luke 2:14](/luke/2-14 "Luke 2:14 - Angelic Chorus of Praise") and foreshadowing the universal worship that Christ will eventually receive. Lastly, it underscores the theme of **Joyful Witness and Evangelism**, as the shepherds, having heard and seen, not only worshipped but also shared their experience, becoming the first human evangelists of the Christmas story. This foreshadows the Great Commission given to Christ's followers to proclaim what they have heard and seen ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glorifying (Greek, _doxázō'_):** From G1392, meaning to render (or esteem) glorious in a wide application, to honor or magnify. This word indicates an active acknowledgment of God's inherent majesty, splendor, and worth. The shepherds were not merely feeling good; they were actively attributing supreme honor and renown to God, recognizing His divine nature and the magnificent work He had just accomplished.
* **Praising (Greek, _ainéō'_):** From G134, meaning to praise (God), to laud, extol, or celebrate. This term complements "glorifying" by focusing on the active expression of commendation and thanksgiving for specific acts of goodness and power. The shepherds were celebrating God for the particular "things that they had heard and seen," expressing their gratitude and admiration for His direct intervention in human history through the birth of the Savior.
* **Heard (Greek, _akoúō'_):** From G191, meaning to hear in various senses, to give audience, or understand. This highlights the initial reception of the angelic message. The shepherds' response was rooted in the authoritative word they received, which prepared them for what they would see. Their "hearing" was not passive but led to active obedience and confirmation.
* **Seen (Greek, _eídō'_):** From G1492, meaning properly to see (literally or figuratively), to perceive, or to know. This emphasizes the empirical confirmation of the angelic message. The shepherds' faith was not blind; it was grounded in a tangible experience. They saw the baby, the manger, and the parents, verifying the truth of what they had heard. The combination of "heard and seen" underscores the dual nature of revelation: through divine word and through observable reality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the shepherds returned":** This phrase signifies the completion of their extraordinary detour from their daily duties. It's not just a physical return to their fields and flocks, but a return transformed by a divine encounter. They are no longer just shepherds; they are now witnesses to the most significant event in human history.
* **"glorifying and praising God":** This is the core action of the verse, revealing their profound spiritual state. Their response is active, vocal, and directed entirely towards God. The use of two strong, complementary verbs ("glorifying" and "praising") emphasizes the depth and comprehensiveness of their worship. They recognized God as the ultimate source and recipient of all honor for this miraculous event.
* **"for all the things that they had heard and seen":** This clause provides the immediate cause and content of their worship. Their praise was directly linked to their personal, verifiable experience: the angelic announcement ("heard") and the sight of the Christ child and the manger ("seen"). This grounds their spiritual response in concrete divine acts, making their worship authentic and informed.
* **"as it was told unto them":** This concluding phrase is crucial for validating the entire narrative. It confirms the perfect alignment between divine prophecy/announcement and its fulfillment. The shepherds found everything to be exactly as revealed, reinforcing the reliability of God's word and the truth of the gospel message. It underscores God's faithfulness and precision in orchestrating His redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
Luke employs several effective literary devices in this verse. The **Juxtaposition** of the shepherds' humble station with their profound, public act of "glorifying and praising God" highlights God's choice to reveal His glory to the lowly, a recurring theme in Luke. The **Repetition** of the idea of "hearing and seeing" (first in the angelic message, then in the shepherds' confirmation, and finally as the basis for their praise) emphasizes the verifiable nature of the divine revelation. The phrase "as it was told unto them" functions as a powerful **Affirmation** or **Verification**, serving to confirm the truth and reliability of the angelic prophecy and, by extension, God's word itself. This reinforces the narrative's credibility and theological weight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The shepherds' response in Luke 2:20 offers a profound theological model for humanity's proper response to divine revelation. Their immediate and unreserved glorification and praise of God, stemming from what they "had heard and seen," underscores that true worship is a natural and necessary outflow of encountering God's truth and experiencing His faithfulness. It is a recognition that God is sovereign, that His word is true, and that His redemptive plan is unfolding precisely as promised. Their worship was not merely emotional but informed by the reality of God's intervention, setting a precedent for all who would later encounter the living Christ.

* [Psalm 103:1](/psalms/103-1 "Psalm 103:1 - Bless the Lord, O my soul")
* [Romans 1:21](/romans/1-21 "Romans 1:21 - Failure to Glorify God")
* [Revelation 5:13](/revelation/5-13 "Revelation 5:13 - All Creation Praises God and the Lamb")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The shepherds' journey from hearing the angelic news to seeing the Christ child and then returning with hearts full of praise provides a powerful blueprint for our own spiritual lives. It challenges us to move beyond passive reception of God's word to active, heartfelt worship and proclamation. When we truly "hear" the gospel and "see" its transformative power in our lives and in the world, our natural response should be one of profound gratitude and adoration for God. This verse calls us to cultivate a spirit of worship that is not confined to sacred spaces or specific times but permeates our daily lives, transforming our mundane returns into acts of glorification. It reminds us that our personal encounters with God's truth should lead us to publicly acknowledge His greatness and faithfulness, becoming witnesses to what we have experienced.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things" have you "heard and seen" of God's faithfulness in your own life that should lead you to glorify and praise Him more actively?**
* **How does the shepherds' immediate and public response challenge your own expressions of worship and gratitude for God's work?**
* **In what ways can you more intentionally "return" to your daily life "glorifying and praising God" for His presence and promises?**

### FAQ

**Why were shepherds, of all people, chosen to be the first human witnesses of Jesus' birth?**

Answer: The choice of shepherds as the first human witnesses of Jesus' birth is deeply significant and aligns with several key themes in Luke's Gospel. Historically and culturally, shepherds were often marginalized, considered lowly, and ritually unclean. By revealing the Messiah's birth to them, God demonstrated His preference for the humble and outcast, highlighting that His salvation is for all people, not just the privileged or powerful. This choice foreshadows Jesus' ministry, which consistently reached out to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. It also underscores the universal accessibility of the gospel message, emphasizing that God's grace is extended to those whom society often overlooks, as seen in Jesus' later parables and teachings, such as the parable of the lost sheep in [Luke 15:3-7](/luke/15-3-7 "Luke 15:3-7 - Parable of the Lost Sheep").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 2:20, with the shepherds "glorifying and praising God," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very reason for all praise and the object of God's redemptive plan. The shepherds' worship was a direct response to the dawning of God's salvation in the infant Jesus, foreshadowing the universal praise that would one day be directed to the Lamb of God. Christ Himself is the ultimate "thing that they had heard and seen," the culmination of all God's promises and the perfect revelation of His glory. As the Son of God, He is worthy of all glory and honor, a truth echoed throughout the New Testament, from the angelic host's declaration in [Luke 2:14](/luke/2-14 "Luke 2:14 - Angelic Chorus of Praise") to the heavenly chorus in [Revelation 5:12](/revelation/5-12 "Revelation 5:12 - Worthy is the Lamb"). The shepherds' response anticipates the worship of all creation before the resurrected Christ, who, by His life, death, and resurrection, fully accomplished the salvation that the infant in the manger initiated. Their praise, therefore, is a microcosm of the eternal adoration due to the One who is "the image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God")) and through whom "all things were created" ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ, Creator of All")).

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

Isaiah 29:19

The meek also shall increase [their] joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Psalms 106:48

Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

Acts 11:18

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Psalms 72:17

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and [men] shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Psalms 72:19

And blessed [be] his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled [with] his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Psalms 107:8

Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalms 107:15

Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!