Ethan Walker
In the Gospel of Luke, Simeon is described as a just and devout man who met the Holy Family at the Temple in Jerusalem. While the Bible does not explicitly state Simeon's age, he is generally assumed to have been elderly, with some texts referring to him as Simeon the old man or Simeon senex. Orthodox tradition holds that Simeon was one of the scholars who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into the Septuagint and rendered Isaiah 7:14 as a young woman. In Catholic tradition, Simeon is venerated as a saint, and his feast day is commemorated on various dates depending on the church calendar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Simeon |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Figure in | Gospel of Luke |
| Encountered | Jesus |
| Foresaw | Christ's future crucifixion |
| Encountered Jesus at | Temple in Jerusalem |
| Jesus accompanied by | Joseph, Mary |
| Jesus' age | 40 days old |
| Simeon's age | Generally assumed to be elderly |
| Other names | Simeon the Righteous, Simeon the God-Receiver, Simeon senex, Saint Simeon, Simeon of Durham |
| Profession | Chronicler |
| Death | Between 1130 and 1138 |
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What You'll Learn
Simeon in the Bible
The name Simeon is used for four men in the Bible. The focus of this answer will be on two of them: Simeon, son of Jacob, and Simeon, a man in Jerusalem who met baby Jesus.
Simeon, Son of Jacob
Simeon was the second-born son of Jacob, born to Jacob's wife, Leah. He is described as a man of anger and violence. This is evident in the Bible when his sister Dinah was taken and defiled by a Hivite named Shechem, the son of a local ruler. Simeon and his brother Levi took violent revenge for the act committed against their sister. As Jacob was nearing death, he gave his sons a patriarchal blessing and remembered the sins of Simeon and Levi, referring to their swords as "weapons of violence". Jacob's words came to pass, and centuries later, the tribe of Simeon was small and was forced to share territory with Judah, a larger and more powerful tribe. The Bible also shows that Simeon was a man of envy and hatred.
Simeon, a Man in Jerusalem
Simeon, according to the Gospel of Luke, was a devout and just man. He is also referred to as Simeon the Righteous. He is described as exemplary in the way he read and reflected upon the Old Testament. He is said to have been waiting in Jerusalem, longing expectantly for Scripture's fulfillment.
Simeon is known for his encounter with Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were visiting, as per the law of Moses, to present newborns in the Temple on the 40th day after their birth. Simeon held baby Jesus and immediately felt he was in the presence of the savior. He uttered a prayer, which is still used liturgically as the Latin Nunc Dimittis in the Catholic Church and other Christian churches, and gave a prophecy that foresaw Christ's crucifixion. He also prophesied about Mary, saying, "a sword will pierce through your own soul also". Simeon is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy.
While the Bible does not mention Simeon's age, he is generally assumed to have been elderly. Orthodox tradition holds that he was one of the seventy scholars who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into the Septuagint and that he disbelieved Isaiah 7:14, which stated that "a virgin" would conceive, so he translated it as "a young woman". Because of this, a divine being told him he would live to see the fulfillment of this prophecy. When he was around 360 years old, he saw Jesus, uttered a benediction, and died.
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Simeon's encounter with Jesus
Simeon was a righteous and devout man of Jerusalem who lived at the time of Jesus' birth. He is described as having been waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Simeon had studied the Scripture Scrolls to learn all he could about the Messiah. The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died, and on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple.
At the same time, Joseph and Mary were also approaching the Temple in Jerusalem, having travelled from Bethlehem with the infant Jesus in their arms. They had come to fulfil the requirements of the Law of Moses, which stated that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to the Lord.
Simeon, led by the Spirit, approached Joseph and Mary and took the infant Jesus into his arms. He then uttered a prayer, praising God and blessing him, and prophesying about the infant Jesus:
> "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Simeon also blessed Joseph and Mary and said to Mary:
> "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
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Simeon's prophecy
Simeon, a righteous and devout man from Jerusalem, is a significant character in the Bible, specifically in Luke 2. He is introduced in the Gospel of Luke as an individual upon whom the Holy Spirit was present. According to the Biblical account, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Christ of God.
Upon encountering Jesus, Simeon recognised the fulfilment of God's promised salvation, declaring that Jesus was a "light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel". Simeon's prophecy also included a message to Mary, foretelling the suffering that Jesus' destiny would bring to her:
> "Behold, this child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
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Simeon of Durham
Symeon is known for his historical writings, particularly his two works focused on northern affairs: "Libellus de Exordio atque Procursu istius, hoc est Dunelmensis, Ecclesie" ("The Little Book on the Origins and Progress of this Church, that is of Durham") and "Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum" ("A History of the Kings of the English and Danes"). "Libellus de Exordio" is considered his most important work, composed between 1104 and 1107. It traces the history of the community of Durham, originally settled at Lindisfarne, up to the year 1096. Symeon's task was to demonstrate the continuity of Durham's history despite disruptions like Viking invasions and the Norman Conquest. He also sought to justify William of Saint-Calais's expulsion of the clerical community in 1083, which he replaced with Benedictine monks.
Symeon's handwriting appears to survive in several Durham books, including the Liber Vitae and the Cantor's Book, which he would have maintained as part of his duties as precentor. His works provide valuable insights into the history of northern England, especially Durham, and contribute to our understanding of the Middle Ages in that region.
The exact dates of Symeon's birth and death are unknown, but it is estimated that he flourished around 1090 to 1128 and died around 1130.
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Simeon's age
The exact age of Simeon, a figure in the Gospel of Luke, is not mentioned in the Bible. However, he is generally assumed to have been elderly. In the Bible, Simeon is described as a "just and devout man" from Jerusalem who had a personal encounter with Jesus as a baby and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion.
Simeon is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy. His feast day is commemorated on different dates depending on the church tradition. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church celebrate Candlemas on the 40th day after Christmas, in accordance with Mosaic Law. However, due to the theological dispute over the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which replaced the older Julian calendar, the Orthodox Church celebrates Saint Simeon on the 16th of February.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition commemorates Simeon with Anna the Prophetess on the 3rd of February, known as the Feast of the Holy and Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess. In the Anglican Communion, Simeon is not venerated with a festal observance, and the 3rd of February is designated to recognize other saints.
While the Bible does not specify Simeon's age, some sources refer to him as an "old man," and the phrase "now let thy servant depart in peace" from the Bible has been interpreted as implying that he was elderly. Additionally, Simeon has been connected with legends, such as being identified as Shimon ben Hillel, the son of Hillel, and the father of Gamaliel, which are considered untrustworthy by some scholars.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible does not mention Simeon's age. However, he is generally assumed to have been elderly.
Simeon is a figure in the Gospel of Luke. He is described as a "just and devout" man who had a personal encounter with Jesus as a baby and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion.
Simeon is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy. His feast day is commemorated on different dates depending on the church calendar, ranging from 2 February to 16 February.
