Luke 2:34

Them. The parents; the child being separately and specially designated.

Is set [κ ε ι τ α ι]. The verb means primarily to be laid, and so to lie : hence to be set forth or promulgated, as the law is said to be laid down, and so, appointed or destined, as here.

The fall and rising again (ptwsin kai ajnastasin). For the fall, because he will be a stumbling block to many (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:42; Matthew 21:44; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 1:23). For the rising, because many will be raised up through him to life and glory (Romans 6:4; Romans 6:9; Ephesians 2:6). The A. V. predicates the falling and the rising of the same persons : the fall and rising again of many. The Rev., the falling and rising up of many, is ambiguous. The American Revisers give it correctly : the falling and the rising.

Which shall be spoken against [α ν τ ι λ ε γ ο μ ε ν ο ν]. The participle is the present; and the expression does not voice a prophecy, but describes an inherent characteristic of the sign : a sign of which it is the character to experience contradiction from the world. In the beginning, as a babe, Jesus experienced this at the hands of Herod; so all through his earthly ministry and on the cross; and so it will be to the end, until he shall have put all enemies under his feet. Compare Hebrews 12:3. Wyc., a token to whom it shall be gainsaid.