And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

And all they that had heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

and all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then shall this child be?' and the hand of the Lord was with him.

All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.

And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: "What do you think this boy will be?" And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – "What can this child be destined to become?" For the Power of the Lord was with him.

What manner of child - Such were the remarkable circumstances of his birth that they apprehended that he would be distinguished as a prophet, or that great events would result from his life.
The hand of the Lord was with him - The word "hand" is used to denote "aid, protection, favor." We stretch out the hand to aid those whom we wish to help. The expression here means that God "aided" him, "protected" him, or showed him favor. Some think that these words are a part of the speech of the neighbors - "What manner of child shall this be? God is so evidently with him!"

What manner of child shall this be! - As there have been so many extraordinary things in his conception and birth, surely God has designed him for some extraordinary purpose. These things they laid up in their heart, patiently waiting to see what God would work.
The hand of the Lord was with him - God defended and prospered him in all things, and the prophetic spirit began to rest upon him.

And all they that heard [them] (e) laid [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the (f) hand of the Lord was with him.
(e) Thought upon them diligently and earnestly, and as it were, printed them in their hearts.
(f) That is, the present favour of God, and a singular type of virtue appeared in him.

And all they that heard them,.... The above things, laid them up in their hearts; treasured them up in their memories, and often thought of them in their minds, what should be the meaning, and what would be the issue of them:
saying, what manner of child shall this be? what will he be, or come to? and what is it that he shall do? surely he must be designed in providence to be put into some high station, and some eminent work and service; since so many, and such great things, have gone before, and attended his birth:
and the hand of the Lord was with him; which may intend the special care, and peculiar providence of God in preserving his life, giving him health, causing him to grow strong and robust, and in stature of body, and in endowments of mind; and also the communications of grace unto him, and the gracious presence of God with him, so soon as he was capable of enjoying them; as likewise a spirit of prophecy, which is sometimes signified by the hand of the Lord; and the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, which, in process of time, appeared in him, qualifying him for his high office and work: the hand of the Lord, with the Jews, is the Holy Ghost: thus they interpret 1-Chronicles 28:19 "all in writing", this is the "Masora"; "from the hand of the Lord", , "this is the Holy Ghost". (w).
(w) T. Hieros. Megilla, fol. 70. 1.

hand of the Lord was with him--by special tokens marking him out as one destined to some great work (1-Kings 18:46; 2-Kings 3:15; Acts 11:21).

The hand of the Lord - The peculiar power and blessing of God.