Luke 2:28 describes Simeon taking the infant Jesus 'in his arms' (en tais ankalais). The plural noun literally means 'bent arms'—the crook of the arms used for cradling. In classical Greek it appears often with verbs of holding or carrying, describing how one holds a child or beloved object close. Simeon's action fulfills his long waiting: he can now die in peace because he has held salvation itself in his arms. The tender physicality of the image contrasts with the cosmic significance of what he holds.