A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 2:32

"A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel." — Luke 2:32 (ASV)

Revelation to the Gentiles (αποκαλυψιν εθνων). Objective genitive. The Messiah is to be light (φως) for the Gentiles in darkness (1:70) and glory (δοξα) for Israel (cf. Romans 9:1–5; Isaiah 49:6). The word εθνος originally meant just a crowd or company, then a race or nation, then the nations other than Israel (the people, ο λαος) or the people of God. The word Gentile is Latin from gens, a tribe or nation. But the world-wide mission of the Messiah comes out clearly in these early chapters in Luke.