Zacharias in Luke 1:5 — Bible person

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 the priests returned from the Exile (Ezra 2:36-39); but they were then re-distributed under the old designations. The priests served at the temple twice each year, and only for a week each time. Zacharias’s time had come for this service. During this period his home would be one of the chambers set apart for the priests on the sides of the temple ground. The offering of incense was one of the most solemn parts of the daily worship of the temple, and lots were drawn each day to determine who should have this great honour, an honour which no priest could enjoy more than once during his lifetime.

While Zacharias ministered at the golden altar of incense in the holy place, it was announced to him by the angel Gabriel that his wife Elisabeth, who was also of a priestly family, now stricken in years, would give birth to a son who was to be called John, and that he would be the forerunner of the long-expected Messiah (Luke 1:12-17). As a punishment for his refusing to believe this message, he was struck dumb and “not able to speak until the day that these things should be performed” (20). Nine months passed away, and Elisabeth’s child was born, and when in answer to their inquiry Zacharias wrote on a “writing tablet,” “His name is John,” his mouth was opened, and he praised God (60-79). The child (John the Baptist), thus “born out of due time,” “waxed strong in spirit” (1:80).

People and places

Selected passages

Jump to OET LUK 1:5–25 section.

Recorded scripture occurrences (9)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: LUK 1:5

OET-RV LUK 1:5

5 It started with the priest Zekaryah (Zechariah; Grk. Zakarias) and his wife Elisheva (Elizabeth; Grk. Elisabet) at the time when Herodes (Herod) was the king of Yehudah (Judea). (Zekaryah was in the priestly division of Aviyah, and Elisheva was also a descendant of Aharon (Aaron).)

OET-LV LUK 1:5

5 It _became in the days of _Haʸrōdaʸs king of_ the _Youdaia, a_ certain _priest by_the_name Zaⱪarias of division of _Abia/(ʼAⱱīāh), and wife to _him of the daughters of_Aʼarōn/(ʼAhₐron), and the name of _her, Elisabet.

Show passage in OET: LUK 1:12

OET-RV LUK 1:12

12 Zekaryah got a big fright at seeing him there and started to tremble.

OET-LV LUK 1:12

12 And Zaⱪarias was _disturbed having _seen him, and fear fell _on on him.

Show passage in OET: LUK 1:13

OET-RV LUK 1:13

13 But the messenger spoke, “Don’t be scared Zekaryah, because your request has been listened to, and your wife Elisheva will give birth to a son and you’ll name him Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes).

OET-LV LUK 1:13

13 But the messenger said to him:
Be_ not _fearing, Zaⱪarias, because the petition of _you was _listened _to, and Elisabet the wife of _you will _be _bearing a_son to _you, and you _will _be _calling the name of _him Yōannaʸs.

Jump to OET LUK 1:5 section.

Jump to OET LUK 1:12 section.

Jump to OET LUK 1:13 section.

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