Luke 2:34

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

And {G2532} Simeon {G4826} blessed {G2127} them {G846}, and {G2532} said {G2036} unto {G4314} Mary {G3137} his {G846} mother {G3384}, Behold {G2400}, this {G3778} child is set {G2749} for {G1519} the fall {G4431} and {G2532} rising again {G386} of many {G4183} in {G1722} Israel {G2474}; and {G2532} for {G1519} a sign {G4592} which shall be spoken against {G483};

Shim`on blessed them and said to the child's mother, Miryam, "This child will cause many in Isra'el to fall and to rise, he will become a sign whom people will speak against;

Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: โ€œBehold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;

Commentary

Luke 2:34 KJV presents a profound prophecy from Simeon concerning the infant Jesus, delivered to Mary and Joseph at the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse encapsulates the divisive nature of Christ's mission and the opposition He would inevitably face.

Context

This prophecy occurs during the dedication of the infant Jesus at the Temple, forty days after His birth, in accordance with the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 12:3-4). Simeon, a righteous and devout man, had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah (Luke 2:26). Upon seeing Jesus, he took Him in his arms, offered a prayer of thanksgiving, and then delivered this prophetic word to Mary, followed by the specific prophecy of a sword piercing Mary's own soul.

Key Themes

  • Divine Purpose and Division: Simeon declares that Jesus is "set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel." This highlights God's sovereign plan for the Messiah to be a catalyst for spiritual transformation. For some, His coming would lead to salvation, spiritual revival, and elevation; for others, it would result in judgment, spiritual downfall, and condemnation, based on their response to Him. Jesus naturally brings about a separation between those who believe and those who reject Him.
  • Controversy and Opposition: The phrase "a sign which shall be spoken against" powerfully foreshadows the widespread opposition, contradiction, and hostility Jesus would encounter throughout His ministry, leading to His crucifixion. He would be a point of contention and a target for verbal and physical attacks, fulfilling prophecies of the Messiah being rejected by His own people (John 1:11).
  • Messiah as a Stumbling Block: This prophecy aligns with other scriptural passages that describe the Messiah as a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense" (Isaiah 8:14; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8). For those who reject Him, He becomes the cause of their spiritual ruin.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Fall and rising again": The Greek words here are ptลsis (fall, ruin, downfall) and anastasis (a standing up again, resurrection, rising). This doesn't primarily refer to physical death and resurrection for individuals, but rather to their spiritual state and destiny. Jesus' coming would reveal the true spiritual condition of hearts, leading some to spiritual restoration and others to spiritual ruin.
  • "Sign which shall be spoken against": The Greek word for "spoken against" is antillegomenon, meaning "to be contradicted," "to be gainsaid," or "to be opposed." It emphasizes the active, verbal, and often hostile opposition Jesus would face from religious leaders and many others throughout His life and ministry.

Practical Application

Simeon's prophecy remains profoundly relevant today. Jesus continues to be a figure who divides humanity. Every person is confronted with the choice to either accept Him as Lord and Savior, leading to spiritual life and a relationship with God, or to reject Him, leading to spiritual separation and judgment. The gospel message, while offering peace and salvation, inherently creates a divide because it demands a response and exposes the true condition of the human heart. Believers may also experience being "spoken against" for their faith, echoing the opposition Christ Himself faced.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 1:23

    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

  • 1 Peter 2:7

    Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Isaiah 8:14

    And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 8:15

    And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

  • Matthew 21:44

    And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

  • Acts 9:1

    ยถ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
โ† Back