Luke 2:8

Now ¹  there were shepherds ²  nearby ³  living out in the field, keeping guard ⁴  over their flock at night.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.

And in the same country there were keepers of sheep in the fields, watching over their flock by night.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Now ¹  there were shepherds ²  nearby ³  living out in the field, keeping guard ⁴  over their flock at night.

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

² sn Some argue that shepherds were among the culturally despised, but the evidence for this view of shepherds is late, coming from 5th century Jewish materials. December 25 as the celebrated date of Jesus’ birth arose around the time of Constantine (ca. a.d. 306-337), though it is mentioned in material from Hippolytus (a.d. 165-235). Some think that the reason for celebration on this date was that it coincided with the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, and Christians could celebrate their own festival at this time without fear of persecution. On the basis of the statement that the shepherds were living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night it is often suggested that Jesus’ birth took place in early spring, since it was only at lambing time that shepherds stood guard over their flocks in the field. This is not absolutely certain, however.

³ tn Grk “in that region.”

⁴ tn Grk “living in the field (see BDAG 15 s.v. ἀγραυλέω) and guarding their flock.”