Definition · Webster 1828 · Scriptures · Corruption · Roots · Usage · Related
📖 Biblical Definition
Simeon is the just and devout aged saint of Jerusalem (Luke 2:25-35) — one of the Anawim, the "poor of the LORD," the small remnant of pre-Christian Israelites who were "waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25) when the Messiah came. Three things are said about him: he was JUST (righteous), DEVOUT (godly), and WAITING. The Holy Spirit was upon him; it had been revealed to him "by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." The Spirit then guided him to the temple precisely when Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus for the days of Mary's purification (according to Lev 12). Simeon took the child in his arms, blessed God, and sang the Nunc Dimittis ("Now let thy servant depart"): "LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32). This is the only place in Scripture where a human being ASKS GOD FOR DEATH — and asks for it joyfully, because the long wait is fulfilled. Simeon then prophesied to Mary: "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35). The sword prophecy — fulfilled at the cross when Mary stood by — was the costly note inside the joyful song. Simeon embodies the discipline of WAITING: when God has promised, waiting is faith made patient. When the fulfillment comes, the wait makes the joy deeper than the impatient could ever know.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Just and devout aged saint of Jerusalem who held the infant Christ in the temple and sang the Nunc Dimittis, the song of the satisfied wait.
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SIMEON THE RIGHTEOUS, noun. A just and devout man of Jerusalem to whom the Holy Spirit had revealed he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ. He took the infant Jesus in his arms in the temple and sang the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:25-35), then prophesied to Mary about a sword that would pierce her soul.
His name means "hearing" (Hebrew Shimon). One of the Anawim — the poor of the LORD — waiting for the consolation of Israel.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 2:25-26 — "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. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ."
Luke 2:29-32 — "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
Luke 2:34-35 — "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; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Hebrews 11:13 — "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Simeon is corrupted when the Nunc Dimittis is reduced to a pious end-of-life prayer (losing its OT-fulfillment-now-arrived theology) or when the sword prophecy is sentimentalized as Mary's emotional pain rather than as the theological cost of standing under the cross.
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End-of-life-prayer reduction. The Nunc Dimittis ("Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace") is sometimes used as a generic deathbed prayer or evening compline — a request for peaceful death. But the canonical context is specific: Simeon asks for release because the LONG WAIT IS FULFILLED. "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation" — salvation is in his arms, an infant whose name is Jesus. The song is the satisfaction of a CONCRETE PROMISE, not a generic prayer about dying well. The Nunc Dimittis preaches that when God's promise is kept in our lifetime, departing in peace becomes possible.
Sword-prophecy sentimentalization. "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also" — Simeon's word to Mary is sometimes treated as advance notice of mother-pain at her son's death. True, but more: the sword that pierced Mary's soul was the theological reality of WATCHING THE INCARNATE GOD DIE for the sins she had not committed but for which He bore the cost. Mary stood under the cross (John 19:25-27) and the sword went through. Every disciple of Christ is told to take up a cross; some are sent to stand beneath one and watch the One they love crucified. Sentimentalizing the sword strips the discipleship cost from the prophecy.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Symeōn (G4826), Hebrew Shimon (H8095) — "hearing"; just and devout aged saint, singer of the Nunc Dimittis.
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Greek Symeōn (G4826) — Simeon; transliteration of Hebrew Shimon (the same name as the tribal patriarch)
Hebrew Shimon (H8095) — "hearing" or "he has heard" — fitting for the one who waited and finally saw what God had promised
One of the Anawim — the poor/humble of the LORD — waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25)
Sang the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-32) — one of the four Lucan canticles (Magnificat, Benedictus, Gloria, Nunc Dimittis)
Usage
"Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace — Simeon's prayer was satisfied because the Promise was in his arms."
"A sword shall pierce thy own soul also — the prophecy that promised Mary the cost of standing under the cross."
"Simeon embodies WAITING: when God has promised, patience is faith made adult; when fulfillment comes, the wait makes joy deep."