Luke 2:30

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) Mine eyes have seen thy salvation.—The Greek word is not the usual feminine noun expressing the abstract idea of salvation, but the neuter of the adjective—that which brings or works out salvation. Its use here is probably determined by its appearance in the LXX. version of Isaiah 52:10, as quoted in Luke 3:6. He saw in that infant child the means of deliverance for the world.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:25-35 The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thy salvation - Him who is to procure salvation for his people; or, the Saviour.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

30. seen thy salvation—Many saw this child, nay, the full-grown "man, Christ Jesus," who never saw in Him "God's Salvation." This estimate of an object of sight, an unconscious, helpless babe, was pure faith. He "beheld His glory" (Joh 1:14). In another view it was prior faith rewarded by present sight.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 2:29"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,.... The Messiah, who is often so called; see Genesis 49:18. He goes by the name of "salvation", because the salvation of God's elect is put into his hands, and he has undertook it; and because he is the author of it, he has fulfilled his engagements, and has accomplished what he promised to do; and because salvation is in him, it is to be had in him; and in him the true Israel of God are saved, with an everlasting salvation: and he is called "God's salvation" because he is a Saviour of his choosing, calling, and constituting; whom he promised under the Old Testament dispensation and in the fulness of time sent; and who now appeared in human nature, and whom good old Simeon now saw, with his bodily eyes; a sight which many kings and prophets had desired, but were not favoured with; and also with the eyes of his understanding, with the spiritual eye of faith, as his Saviour and Redeemer; for without this, the former would not have been sufficient to have given such peace and tranquillity of mind, in a departure out of this world: for many saw him in the days of his flesh, who never saw his glory, as the Son of God, and Saviour of sinners; but such a sight those have, who have their understandings enlightened, and Christ, as God's salvation, set before them: they see him in the glory of his person, the fulness of his grace, the suitableness and excellency of his righteousness, the efficacy of his blood, and the perfection of his sacrifice; and as an able, willing, complete, and only Saviour: and such a sight of him, puts them out of conceit with themselves, and their own works of righteousness, as saviours; makes the creature, and all it has and does, look mean and empty; fills the soul with love to Christ, and a high esteem of him, and with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; it transforms a soul, and makes it like to Christ; gives it inexpressible pleasure and satisfaction; and makes it desirous, as it did this good man, to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than to live in this (in some sense) state of absence from him.

Geneva Study Bible

For {n} mine eyes have seen thy {o} salvation,

(n) That is, for I have seen with my very eyes: for he saw before in mind, as it is said of Abraham, He saw my day and rejoiced.

(o) That in which your salvation is contained.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 2:30 gives the reason for this tranquil attitude towards death.—τὸ σωτήριον = τὴν σωτηρίαν, often in Sept[29] [29] Septuagint.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

30. thy salvation] Not τὴν σωτηρίαν but τὸ σωτήριον which seems to have a wider meaning.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 2:30. Εἶδον, have seen) Even his hands held Him: but Simeon adapts his words to those of the promise, Luke 2:26.—τὸ σωτήριόν σου, means of salvation) So ch. Luke 3:6. The language is appropriately put in the abstract, inasmuch as referring to an infant, περὶ τοῦ παιδίου, before that He completed the work of salvation: subsequently He is called the Saviour in the concrete, the appellation which already the Heavenly host had applied to Him in the way of ‘Ampliatio’ [A figure whereby a thing or person is described, not according to what he now is, but what he is about to be. So the angels, in Luke 2:11 above, called Jesus Σωτὴρ.—Append.]. Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 49:9,—τὴν διασπορὰν τοῦ ἸΣΡΑΗΑ ἐπιστρέψαι· ἰδοὺ δέδωκά σε εἰς διαθήκην γένους, εἰς ΦΩΣ ΕΘΝΩΝ, τοῦ εἶναί σε εἰς ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΝ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς.—λέγοντα τοῖς ἐν δεσμοῖς, ἐξέλθετε, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ σκότει, ΑΝΑΚΑΛΥΦΘΗΝΑΙ. Thy means of Salvation, i.e. the Christ. For it was this very Christ that even then Simeon was seeing: and it is He whom Simeon calls a Light and the Glory.

Luke 2:30