Luke 1:5 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Luke 1:5
THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
to cause to be ("gen"-erate) · verb — second aorist middle deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
in
ἐνen
G1722
"in · preposition
days
ἡμέραιςhēmerais
G2250
day · noun — dative plural feminine
Herod
ἩρῴδουHērōdou
G2264
heroic · noun — genitive singular masculine, a proper name
king
βασιλέωςbasileōs
G935
a sovereign (abstractly · noun — genitive singular masculine
Judæa
ἸουδαίαςIoudaias
G2449
the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa) · noun — genitive singular feminine, a place
certain
τιςtis
G5100
some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
priest
ἱερεύςhi'ereus
G2409
a priest (literally or figuratively) · noun — nominative singular masculine
named
ὀνόματιonomati
G3686
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority · noun — dative singular neuter
Zacharias
ΖαχαρίαςZacharias
G2197
Zacharias (i.e. Zechariah) · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
of
ἐξex
G1537
literal or figurative · preposition
course
ἐφημερίαςephēmerias
G2183
diurnality · noun — genitive singular feminine
Abia
Ἀβιά,Abia
G7
Abijah · noun — genitive singular masculine, a proper name
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
his
αὐτῷautō
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — dative singular masculine
wife
γυνὴgunē
G1135
a woman · noun — nominative singular feminine
of
ἐκek
G1537
literal or figurative · preposition
daughters
θυγατέρωνthugaterōn
G2364
a female child · noun — genitive plural feminine
Aaron
ἈαρὼνAarōn
G2
Aaron · noun — genitive singular masculine, a proper name
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
her
αὐτῆςautēs
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular feminine
name
ὄνομαonoma
G3686
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority · noun — nominative singular neuter
Elisabeth
Ἐλισάβετ.¶Elisabet
G1665
Elisabet · noun — nominative singular feminine, a proper name
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
1 Chronicles 24:19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, a…
Nehemiah 12:17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Luke 1:5-25
The two preceding evangelists had agreed to begin the gospel with the baptism of John and his ministry, which commenced about six months before our Saviour's public ministry (and now, things being near a crisis, six months was a deal of time, which before was but a little), and therefore this evangelist, designing to give a more particular account than had been given of our Saviour's conception and birth, determines to do so of John Baptist, who in both was his harbinger and forerunner, the morning-star to the Sun of righteousness. The evangelist determines thus, not only because it is commonly reckoned a satisfaction and entertainment to know something of the original extraction and early d…
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FORERUNNER. (Luke 1:5-25)
Herod--(See on Mat 2:1).
course of Abia--or Abijah; the eighth of the twenty-four orders of courses into which David divided the priests (see Ch1 24:1, Ch1 24:4, Ch1 24:10). Of these courses only four returned after the captivity (Ezr 2:34-39), which were again subdivided into twenty-four--retaining the ancient name and order of each. They took the whole temple service for a week each.
his wife was of the daughters of Aaron--The priests might marry into any tribe, but "it was most commendable of all to marry one of the priests' line" [LIGHTFOOT].
Adam Clarke on Luke 1:5
In the days of Herod, the king - This was Herod, surnamed the Great, the son of Antipater, an Idumean by birth, who had professed himself a proselyte to the Jewish religion, but regarded no religion, farther than it promoted his secular interests and ambition. Thus, for the first time, the throne of Judah was filled by a person not of Jewish extraction, who had been forced upon the people by the Roman government. Hence it appears plain that the prophecy of Jacob, Gen 49:10, was now fulfilled; for the scepter had departed from Judah: and now was the time, according to another prophecy, to look for the governor from Bethlehem, who should rule and feed the people of Israel: Mic 5:1, Mic 5:2. Se…
(noc occ.) St. Luke commences the history of his Gospel with Zacharias and the birth of John; relating one marvellous event before another, the less before the greater. For since a virgin was about to become a mother, it had been fore-ordained by grace that the old should previously conceive. He fixes the time, when he says, In the days of Herod, and in the following words adds his rank, king of Judæa. (in Matt. cap. 2.). There was another Herod, who killed John; he was tetrarch, whereas this one was king.
I do not know what is the most important thing that we should preach—that he [John the Baptist] was wonderfully born or more wonderfully slain—for he was born as a prophecy and murdered for truth. By his birth he announced the coming of the Savior, and by his death he condemned the incest of Herod. This holy and righteous man, who was born in an uncommon way as the result of a promise, merited from God that he should depart this world by an uncommon death—that he should by confessing the Lord lay aside his body, which he had received as a gift from the Lord. Therefore John did everything by the will of God, since he was born and died for the sake of God's work.
Divine Scripture teaches us with respect to those whom we commemorate, that not only the characters of the men themselves, but of their parents also, ought to be praised, that they might be distinguished by an inheritance, as it were, handed down to them of unspotted purity. Now not only from his parents, but also from his ancestors, St. John derives his illustrious descent, a descent not exalted by secular power, but venerable from its sanctity. Complete then is that praise which comprehends birth, character, office, actions, and judgments. The office was that of the Priesthood, as it is said, A certain Priest of the name of Zacharias. His birth is implied in the mention made of his ancestors. Of the course of Abia, i. e. of high rank among the noblest families.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Abia — My father is the Lord, the Greek form of Abijah, or Abijam (Matt. 1:7), instead of Abiah (1 Chr. 7:8). In Luke 1:5, the name refers to the head of the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which…
Abia, Course Of — the eighth of the 24 courses or classes into which the priests were divided for serving at the altar. (1 Chronicles 24; Luke 1:5) See Abia, Abiah, Or Abijah, Abijah Or Abijam, 4.
Chronicles, Books of — The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew Dibre hayyamim, i.e., “Acts of the Days.” This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version “Chronicon,” and hence…
Elisabeth — God her oath, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). She was a descendant of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharias (q.v.) “were both righteous before God” (Luke 1:5, 13). Mary’s visit to Elisabeth…
Herod the Great — (Matt. 2:1-22; Luke 1:5; Acts 23:35), the son of Antipater, an Idumaean, and Cypros, an Arabian of noble descent. In the year B.C. 47 Julius Caesar made Antipater, a “wily Idumaean,” procurator of…
John the Baptist — The “forerunner of our Lord.” We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia (1 Chr.…
Priest — The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices. At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved…
Zacharias — (1.) A priest of the course of Abia, the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which the priests had been originally divided by David (1 Chr. 23:1-19). Only four of these courses or “families” of…
Abia · 1. Al — 1. Al
Barrenness · .El — .El
John Gill on Luke 1:5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea,.... This was Herod, the son of Antipater, sometimes called Herod the Great, and is rightly here said to be the king of Judea; for, by deputation from the Roman emperor, he had the government of all Judea, which upon his death was divided among his sons. The phrase, "in the days of", is an eastern way, of speaking; see Genesis 14:1; and intends the time of his reign; in which there was
a certain priest named Zacharias: a name famous among the Jews, for an high priest, who was slain by them the court of the temple, 2 Chronicles 24:20, and for one of the later prophets, Zechariah 1:1, who were of this name. This man, the father of John the Bap…
Luke 1:5-13
Luke 1:5-13
5. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7. And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they were now both at an advanced age. 8. And it happened, while he was discharging the priest's office in the order of his course before God, 9. According to the custom of the priest's office, it fell to him by lot to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10. And the whole multitude of the people were…
Luke’s first two chapters give an account of Jesus’ birth and introduce key themes that will appear later in Luke–Acts. The announcements and birth stories for Jesus and John the Baptist run side by side, showing their parallel roles in bringing God’s salvation. At each point, Jesus is shown to be greater. John is the forerunner announcing Jesus’ coming; Jesus is the Savior.
1:5 Herod was king of Judea: See “Herod the Great” Profile. • a Jewish priest named Zechariah: The priests were descendants of Aaron, Moses’ brother (Exod 28:1). • the priestly order of Abijah: See study note on Luke 1:8-9; see also 1 Chr 24:10. • Elizabeth was also from the priestly line of Aaron: It was considered esp…
Judea · .The term applies to all of Palestine in — .The term applies to all of Palestine in
Marriage · The Jews: Often contracted, in their own tribe — The Jews: Often contracted, in their own tribe
Priests · The four courses which returned from Babylon subdivided into 24 — The four courses which returned from Babylon subdivided into 24
Zacharias (Zechariah) · 2. The father of — 2. The father of
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
