The Meaning of Luke 1:10 Explained

Luke 1:10

KJV: And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

YLT: and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.

Darby: And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

ASV: And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the whole  multitude  of the people  were  praying  without  at the time  of incense. 

What does Luke 1:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Many godly people (Gr. laos, an important word in this Gospel) assembled in the temple courtyards for this daily offering, as was customary. Laos occurs36 times in Luke , but only14times in Matthew and two times in Mark. Luke used this word as a virtual synonym for ochlos, "crowd" or "multitude." This was probably the evening incense offering (3:00 p.m, cf. Daniel 9:21; Acts 3:1). This verse heightens the suspense and prepares the reader for Luke 1:21-22. Incense symbolized the ascending prayers of God"s people that are as a sweet fragrance to Him (cf. Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4). Luke stressed prayer more than any of the Gospel writers, and this is his first reference to it. [1]

Context Summary

Luke 1:1-12 - The Beginning Of The Good News
The opening verses are very explicit. They are answer enough to those who question the story of our Lord's supernatural birth and early years. Luke did not catch up the first legend that floated past him. He made searching inquiry. Doctor Weymouth renders the words in Luke 1:3, "having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first," as, "After careful examination of the facts from the commencement."
That our Lord should come into our race under special and supernatural conditions was as it should have been; but the historicity of this story largely rests on the careful investigations of "the beloved physician," who was authenticated by Paul.
The priests were divided into 24 courses, and shared the Temple services for a week each, the work of each priest being decided by lot, 1 Chronicles 24:1-31. Sweeter than the incense which he sprinkled on the coals, was Zacharias' own prayer, commemorated in the name given to his son, "God's gracious gift," Exodus 30:7-8; Revelation 8:3, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 1

1  The preface of Luke to his whole gospel
5  The conception of John the Baptist;
26  and of Jesus
39  The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus
57  The nativity and circumcision of John
67  The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus,
76  and of John

Greek Commentary for Luke 1:10

Were praying without [ην προσευχομενον εχω]
Periphrastic imperfect indicative picturing the posture of the people while the clouds of incense rose on the inside of the sanctuary. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 1:10

Revelation 5:8 Fell down [επεσαν]
Second aorist active indicative of πιπτω — piptō with first aorist “Holding.”A harp Old word, the traditional instrument (lyre or zithern) for psalmody (Psalm 33:2; Psalm 98:5, etc.).Golden bowls (πιαλας χρυσας — phialas chrusās). Broad shallow saucers, old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 16:1-4, Revelation 16:8, Revelation 16:10, Revelation 16:12, Revelation 16:17; Revelation 17:1; Revelation 21:9.Of incense Old word from τυμιαω — thumiaō to burn incense (Luke 1:9), as in Luke 1:10.Which are (αι εισιν — hai eisin). “Which (these bowls of incense) symbolize the prayers of the saints” as in Psalm 140:2; Luke 1:10. [source]
Revelation 5:8 A harp [κιταραν]
Old word, the traditional instrument (lyre or zithern) for psalmody (Psalm 33:2; Psalm 98:5, etc.).Golden bowls (πιαλας χρυσας — phialas chrusās). Broad shallow saucers, old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 5:8; Revelation 15:7; Revelation 16:1-4, Revelation 16:8, Revelation 16:10, Revelation 16:12, Revelation 16:17; Revelation 17:1; Revelation 21:9.Of incense Old word from τυμιαω — thumiaō to burn incense (Luke 1:9), as in Luke 1:10.Which are (αι εισιν — hai eisin). “Which (these bowls of incense) symbolize the prayers of the saints” as in Psalm 140:2; Luke 1:10. [source]
Revelation 5:8 Of incense [τυμιαματων]
Old word from τυμιαω — thumiaō to burn incense (Luke 1:9), as in Luke 1:10.Which are (αι εισιν — hai eisin). “Which (these bowls of incense) symbolize the prayers of the saints” as in Psalm 140:2; Luke 1:10. [source]
Revelation 5:8 Which are [αι εισιν]
“Which (these bowls of incense) symbolize the prayers of the saints” as in Psalm 140:2; Luke 1:10. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 1:10 mean?

And all the multitude were of the people praying outside at the hour of the incense
καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν τοῦ λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ θυμιάματος

πλῆθος  multitude 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πλῆθος  
Sense: a multitude.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λαοῦ  people 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
προσευχόμενον  praying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: προσεύχομαι  
Sense: to offer prayers, to pray.
ἔξω  outside 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
τῇ  at  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὥρᾳ  hour 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ὥρα  
Sense: a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θυμιάματος  incense 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: θυμίαμα  
Sense: an aromatic substance burnt, incense.

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