Luke 1:13 kjv

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:13 nkjv

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luke 1:13 niv

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.

Luke 1:13 esv

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luke 1:13 nlt

But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 13 Meaning

The angel Gabriel, speaking God’s message, reassured Zechariah, announcing that his and Elizabeth's long-standing prayer for a child had been heard by God. This child, supernaturally conceived given Elizabeth’s advanced age and barrenness, would be a son named John, a divinely appointed name signifying "Yahweh is gracious," pointing to his crucial role in God's plan for salvation history.

Luke 1 13 Context

Luke chapter 1 opens with a dedicated account of the supernatural preparations for the arrival of the Messiah, establishing the dual-birth narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. The immediate context for Luke 1:13 is Zechariah, a priest of the division of Abijah, serving in the Temple's Holy Place. This service, particularly burning incense, was a profound and potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience. At this precise moment, the angel Gabriel appears, breaking 400 years of prophetic silence, to deliver an astonishing message. This occurred during the reign of Herod the Great, a time of political oppression and intense Messianic yearning in Israel. Zechariah and Elizabeth, both described as "righteous before God" but elderly and childless, embody the long wait and barrenness of Israel itself for divine intervention. This verse marks the beginning of God's direct, redemptive action after centuries of relative quiet, directly addressing their long-held personal longing which is profoundly interwoven with God's wider salvific plan for His people.

Luke 1 13 Word analysis

• But the angel said to him,: Introduces a direct divine revelation breaking into human routine. The angel is Gabriel (Lk 1:19), a messenger from God's immediate presence. "To him" emphasizes Zechariah as the specific recipient of this pivotal message.

• "Do not be afraid,: (Mē phobou / Μὴ φοβοῦ) A common opening for divine or angelic announcements throughout the Bible (e.g., Lk 1:30; Lk 2:10; Matt 1:20; Dan 10:12; Judg 6:23), acknowledging the awe and apprehension such appearances naturally provoke. It is a calming directive, preceding a message of peace or good news.

• Zechariah;: (Zacharias / Ζαχαρίας, from Hebrew Zekharyah - "Yahweh has remembered" or "the LORD remembers"). His name is highly significant as the very promise about to be revealed is God's remembrance of His people and their long-awaited covenant promises, as well as Zechariah's personal prayer. The direct address personalizes the divine message.

• for your prayer has been heard,: (hē deēsis sou eisēkousthē / ἡ δέησίς σου εἰσηκούσθη). "Prayer" (deēsis) denotes a supplication or earnest petition. The phrase indicates God's active reception and response to a petition. The past tense "has been heard" conveys a completed divine action, ensuring the outcome. This refers not only to his and Elizabeth’s desire for a child (implied by their barrenness) but possibly also Zechariah's priestly prayers for Israel's deliverance while serving in the temple, linking personal and national redemption. God remembered their steadfast faithfulness despite their childlessness.

• and your wife Elizabeth: (hē gynē sou Elisabet / ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ, from Hebrew Elisheva - "My God is abundance," or "God of the oath"). Her name reinforces themes of God's covenant faithfulness and bountiful provision, fitting for a miraculous birth breaking years of barrenness. This explicitly includes her in the divine promise.

• will bear you a son,: (teksetai hys hymin). A clear, declarative promise of conception and birth, overcoming the natural impediment of barrenness and advanced age, similar to Sarah’s experience (Gen 18:10-14). It points to God's sovereignty over life. The son will be "yours," a joint blessing for both Zechariah and Elizabeth.

• and you shall call his name John.: (kai kaleseis to onoma autou Iōannēn / καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰōάννην, from Hebrew Yochanan - "Yahweh is gracious" or "the LORD is gracious"). This divinely prescribed name is profoundly prophetic. It is not left to the parents to choose, emphasizing divine sovereignty. The name "John" reveals the essence of God’s redemptive work about to unfold—His sovereign grace to bring salvation through repentance and preparation for the Messiah. This grace breaks through barrenness and inaugurates the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah;'": This opening establishes immediate divine communication and acknowledges the typical human reaction of fear in such encounters. It highlights God's tender initiation, calming fear before delivering weighty news, a consistent pattern seen throughout biblical history. It sets the stage for a unique revelation, breaking centuries of prophetic silence.
  • "for your prayer has been heard,": This clause provides the core reason for the angel's visit, explicitly connecting divine action to human supplication. It serves as a profound testament to God's attentiveness and faithfulness, proving that long-held, earnest prayers are not forgotten. This divine response signals the commencement of the "fullness of time."
  • "and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,": This directly addresses the personal, long-standing "reproach" (Lk 1:25) of barrenness for Zechariah and Elizabeth, transforming a source of deep sadness into profound joy. It signifies the miraculous power of God intervening in biological impossibility, akin to His interventions for Sarah and Hannah. This is the central, astounding news for the couple.
  • "and you shall call his name John.": More than merely naming a child, this is a divine commission for the child's identity and future. Names held profound significance in Hebrew culture, often revealing destiny or character. "John" ("Yahweh is gracious") points to God's merciful plan for salvation and specifically identifies this son as the destined forerunner of the Messiah (Mal 3:1), who will prepare the people for the arrival of ultimate grace. This directive emphasizes God's sovereign control over even the smallest details for His greater purposes.

Luke 1 13 Bonus section

The appearance of Gabriel in the Holy Place, specifically beside the altar of incense (Lk 1:11), not merely outside the Temple, signifies the profound solemnity and significance of this announcement. It hints at the immediate connection between Israel's liturgical worship, their fervent prayers for the Messiah, and God's readiness to act within their consecrated life. While the father typically named children in Israelite custom, Zechariah being explicitly told to name the child reinforces the divine authorship and preordained nature of John’s identity and destiny. Zechariah’s initial disbelief, despite this direct divine revelation, and his subsequent muteness (Lk 1:20), sharply contrast with the immediate confirmation that God had heard his prayer, highlighting a common human failure to fully grasp God’s immediate power even when given overwhelming evidence. This verse serves as the prophetic bridge between the Old and New Testaments, establishing John as the key transitional figure prophesied to prepare the way for the Lord's redemptive work.

Luke 1 13 Commentary

Luke 1:13 stands as a dramatic turning point, signifying the end of centuries of prophetic silence and the inauguration of God’s culminating redemptive plan. Through Gabriel's address to Zechariah in the Temple, God confirms His faithful attentiveness to both personal earnest prayer and the collective longing of His people for Messianic deliverance. The phrase "your prayer has been heard" assures us that God truly listens and responds, even when His timing seems protracted. The miraculous conception and birth of John to an elderly, barren couple underscore God's power to do the impossible, transcending natural limitations and human despair, much like He did with Isaac and Samuel. The divinely appointed name "John" ("Yahweh is gracious") is highly programmatic; it defines his future ministry, not just his personal identity, pointing to him as the precursor who will announce God’s gracious intervention through the coming Christ. This verse perfectly intertwines personal blessing with cosmic redemption, showing that God's plan often unfolds through faithful individuals in unexpected ways, shattering what seems naturally impossible.

• Persevere in prayer: Like Zechariah's decades of patient prayer, believers are encouraged to continue in their supplications, trusting God's perfect timing and His faithfulness to respond.
• Expect the impossible: The overcoming of Elizabeth's barrenness reminds us that God can intervene miraculously in seemingly unchangeable situations, bringing life and hope where there appeared to be none.