Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Luke 2:8

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

KJV

Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.

Greek NT

Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum.

Vulgate

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

ASV

And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

13 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
νύξ
nux
noun · 61×
ποίμνη
poimne
noun · 5×
ποιμήν
poimen
noun · 18×
φυλάσσω
phulasso
verb · 31×
φυλακή
phulake
noun · 46×
χώρα
chora
noun · 28×
ἀγραυλέω
agrauleo
verb · 1×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ἐπί
epi
preposition · 888×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×

Theophany

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§333From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.'"196 Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in the highest!"197 They protect Jesus in his infanc…
§486The Father's only Son, conceived as man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "Christ", that is to say, anointed by the Holy Spirit, from the beginning of his human existence, though the manifestation of this fact takes place only progressively: to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples.123 Thus the whole life of Jesus Christ will make manifest "how God …
§525Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family.202 Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's glory was made manifest.203 The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night: The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise him and the magi adva…
Recapitulation of the foregoing argument, showing that Abraham, through the revelation of the Word, knew the Father, and the coming of the Son of God. For this cause, he rejoiced to see the day of Christ, when the promises made to him should be fulfilled. The fruit of this rejoicing has flowed to posterity, viz., to those who are partakers in the faith of Abraham, but not to th…

Cross-references

  • 1Sam 17:34 — And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
  • Exod 3:1 — Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
  • Gen 31:39 — That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
  • Gen 31:39 — That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
  • Gen 31:40 — Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
  • Matt 1:20 — But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceiv
  • Ps 78:70 — He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: