Simeon

Life and work

Luke describes Simeon simply as righteous and devout, living in Jerusalem, waiting for the "consolation of Israel," with the Holy Spirit upon him. He had been told by the Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Lord's Messiah (Luke 2:25-26).

When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple for the customary purification rites and to present him to the Lord, Simeon was moved by the Spirit to come into the temple courts at that exact moment. He took the child in his arms and blessed God with words known as the Nunc Dimittis — "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace... for my eyes have seen your salvation" — declaring the child a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel (Luke 2:27-32). He then blessed Mary and Joseph and, turning to Mary specifically, prophesied that the child was destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and that a sword would pierce her own soul too (Luke 2:33-35). Simeon is not mentioned again in the biblical text.

Extra-biblical evidence

No extra-biblical source records Simeon; he appears only in this single temple scene in Luke's Gospel.

Scripture references

• Luke 2:25-35 — Simeon blesses the infant Jesus and prophesies to Mary