67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: [1:68] "Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and brought redemption for his people, [1:69] and has raised up a horn of strength for us in the house of David his servant — [1:70] as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old — [1:71] salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; [1:72] to show mercy toward our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, [1:73] the oath he swore to Abraham our father, [1:74] to grant us that, having been delivered from the hand of our enemies, we serve him without fear, [1:75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. [1:76] And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, [1:77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, [1:78] through the deep compassion of our God, by which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, [1:79] to shine upon those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." [1:80] And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
LUK 1:67-80
Zechariahʼs Song
In the world it was spoken into
Zechariah’s prophecy, delivered after the birth of his son John, would resonate deeply with a Jewish audience steeped in Second-Temple messianic expectations. The mention of a 'horn of salvation' evokes imagery of Davidic kingship and divine power, recalling the promise of a messianic deliverer from the house of David. This language would signal to listeners that God’s covenantal promises, particularly the oath sworn to Abraham, were being fulfilled. The reference to salvation from 'enemies' and 'those who hate us' would evoke the Roman occupation and the broader oppression faced by Israel, fueling hope for political and spiritual liberation. The phrase 'to guide our feet into the way of peace' would carry eschatological overtones, suggesting not merely absence of conflict but the fullness of shalom—God’s ultimate restoration of creation. Zechariah’s song, rooted in temple piety and prophetic tradition, would affirm God’s faithfulness while pointing to the imminent arrival of God’s redemptive work.
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How other translations render this
LUK 1:67
- KJV
- And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
- BSB
- Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
- Koinōnos
- And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:
LUK 1:68
- KJV
- Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- BSB
- “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
- Koinōnos
- Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and brought redemption for his people,
LUK 1:69
- KJV
- And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
- BSB
- He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
- Koinōnos
- and has raised up a horn of strength for us in the house of David his servant —
LUK 1:70
- KJV
- As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
- BSB
- as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
- Koinōnos
- as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old —
LUK 1:71
- KJV
- That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
- BSB
- salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
- Koinōnos
- salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
LUK 1:72
- KJV
- To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
- BSB
- to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
- Koinōnos
- to show mercy toward our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
LUK 1:73
- KJV
- The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
- BSB
- the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
- Koinōnos
- the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
LUK 1:74
- KJV
- That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
- BSB
- deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
- Koinōnos
- to grant us that, having been delivered from the hand of our enemies, we serve him without fear,
LUK 1:75
- KJV
- In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
- BSB
- in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
- Koinōnos
- in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
LUK 1:76
- KJV
- And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
- BSB
- And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
- Koinōnos
- And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
LUK 1:77
- KJV
- To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- BSB
- to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
- Koinōnos
- to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
LUK 1:78
- KJV
- Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
- BSB
- because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
- Koinōnos
- through the deep compassion of our God, by which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
LUK 1:79
- KJV
- To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
- BSB
- to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
- Koinōnos
- to shine upon those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
LUK 1:80
- KJV
- And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
- BSB
- And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
- Koinōnos
- And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 1:69
- a horn:The word translated 'a horn' here is a metaphor for strength, power, and dignity, often associated with a king or a powerful leader, rather than a literal animal horn.
LUK 1:74
- of us:The word translated 'of us' is actually a verb meaning 'to serve' or 'to worship,' implying a dedicated and often ritualistic service to God, not just a general belonging.
LUK 1:78
- [the] affections:The term translated '[the] affections' literally refers to the inward parts of the body, like the intestines or bowels, which were considered the seat of deep emotions and compassion in ancient thought.
- [the] Sunrise:The word translated '[the] Sunrise' can refer to the literal rising sun, but in this context, it also carries a messianic connotation, referring to a coming deliverer or a new dawn of salvation.