Bible Questions Answered:
What is the “Nunc Dimittis”?
Billy/ St. Louis, Missouri
Bible Answer:
It was an anthem (or song) given by the saintly, Simeon.
Luke 2:25-35 KJV
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation* of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
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;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
*Consolation-Greek: Parakleisis (Par-ak-lay-sis): Solace, comfort, consolation.
Luke 2:25-35 NLT (Simeon's Prophecy)
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the
Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him
26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the
law required,
28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people.
32 He is a Light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the Glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall,
but He will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him.
35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
Godly Simeon, had spent his life in the temple, waiting for the “Consolation of Israel,” the “Comfort of Israel,” or the one who would come and “Comfort Israel, as they were under Roman occupation. Their, comfort, their deliverer.
As an old man, Simeon saw the day came when Mary and Joseph came to the temple to present Jesus to the Lord.
Exodus 13:1,2 KJV
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine.
Because by God's decree, a male child being God's own, had to be redeemed by his parents, through a sacrifice to the Lord. And so Mary and Joseph brought “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
It was then (lead by the Holy Spirit) that Simeon, saw the Child, made his announcement and prophecy.
Simeon knew well the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah.
Genesis 3:15 KJV
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.
Genesis 12:3 KJV
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 49:10 KJV
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.
Deuteronomy 18:15 KJV
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken;
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.
Psalm 2:2 KJV
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His Anointed, saying,
Psalm 45:2,7 KJV
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Psalm 68:18 KJV
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Psalm 69:21 KJV
They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.
Psalm 110:1 KJV
The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalm 118:22 KJV
The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone of the corner.
Psalm 132:11 KJV
The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Isaiah 2:4 KJV
And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 7:14 KJV
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.
Isaiah 8:13-15 KJV
13 Sanctify the LORD of Hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
14 And He shall be for a Sanctuary; but for a Stone of stumbling and for a Rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Isaiah 9:2,6,7 KJV
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the Light shined.
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 11:5,10 KJV
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.
Isaiah 25:8 KJV
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 28:16 NLT
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a Foundation Stone in Jerusalem, a Firm and Tested Stone. It is a Precious Cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Isaiah 42:1,2 KJV
1 Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
Isaiah 49:6 KJV
And He said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My Salvation unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 52:14 KJV
As many were astonished at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:
Isaiah 53:2,7 KJV (Whole chapter.)
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
Isaiah 55:4 KJV
Behold, I have given him for a Witness to the people, a Leader and Commander to the people.
Isaiah 59:16 KJV
And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.
Isaiah 61:1 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isaiah 62:11 KJV
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.
Isaiah 63:1 KJV
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Jeremiah 23:5 KJV
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Ezekiel 17:22 KJV
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a Tender One, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
Daniel 2:34 KJV
34 Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Daniel 7:13 KJV
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
Daniel 9:25 KJV
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Micah 5:2 KJV
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Haggai 2:7 KJV
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of Hosts.
Zechariah 3:8 KJV
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the BRANCH.
Zechariah 6:12 KJV
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of Hosts, saying, Behold the Man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD:
Zechariah 9:9,10 KJV
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 11:12 KJV
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zechariah 12:10 KJV
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 13:7 KJV
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the LORD of Hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.
Malachi 3:1 KJV
Behold, I will send My Messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Had the religious leaders of Israel known well these versus, they would have recognized the baby Jesus as the promised Messiah, but they did not.
