Luke 1:16 kjv
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:16 nkjv
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:16 niv
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:16 esv
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,
Luke 1:16 nlt
And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.
Luke 1 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John's Prophetic Role | ||
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." | Prophecy of the forerunner, fulfilled by John. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple..." | Messenger preparing the way for the Lord. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land..." | Prophecy directly linking Elijah's spirit to turning hearts before God's coming judgment. |
| Lk 1:17 | He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.' | Direct expansion and clarification of John's turning ministry. |
| Matt 3:1-2 | In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." | John's central message of repentance for God's coming kingdom. |
| Mk 1:2-4 | ...John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. | John's ministry included a visible act of repentance. |
| Jn 1:23 | He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said." | John identifies himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. |
| Theme of Repentance / Turning to God | ||
| Deut 4:30 | When you are in distress... and return to the LORD your God and obey his voice— | Moses' instruction for Israel to return to God in repentance. |
| 30:2 | ...and return to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and obey his voice... | Emphasizes the wholehearted nature of turning back to God. |
| 1 Kgs 8:33-34 | "If your people Israel are defeated... and turn again to you and acknowledge your name... then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land..." | Solomon's prayer for repentance leading to restoration. |
| Isa 55:7 | Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | Prophetic call to individual repentance and God's readiness to forgive. |
| Jer 3:12 | "Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever." | A direct prophetic plea for Israel to return. |
| Hos 14:1-2 | Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God... Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good..." | Calls for turning with confession and sincerity. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." | Emphasizes sincere, inward repentance over mere outward display. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. | Peter's post-resurrection sermon echoing the same call to turn. |
| Acts 26:20 | ...that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. | Paul's testimony, showing that repentance leads to changed conduct. |
| God as "Their God" / Covenant Relationship | ||
| Exod 3:6 | He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." | God establishing His covenant identity with Israel through Moses. |
| Lev 26:12 | "I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people." | Foundation of the covenant relationship. |
| Jer 24:7 | I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. | Future prophecy of spiritual renewal leading to covenant fulfillment. |
| Ezek 37:23 | They shall no longer defile themselves... I will save them... and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. | Prophecy of Israel's future return to covenant faithfulness. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | Quoting Jer 31:33, establishing God's unwavering commitment to His people under a new covenant. |
| The "Many" / Remnant | ||
| Rom 9:27-28 | And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." | Reinforces that not all Israel would turn, but a significant "remnant." |
| Rom 11:5 | So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. | Confirmation that God always preserves a faithful remnant within Israel. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 16 Meaning
Luke 1:16 prophesies John the Baptist's primary mission: to lead a significant number of the Jewish people (children of Israel) away from their spiritual deviations and back into a right, living relationship with the God of their covenant. This turning is a call to repentance and renewal of their allegiance to the Lord.
Luke 1 16 Context
Luke 1:16 is part of the angel Gabriel's prophetic announcement to Zechariah concerning the birth and mission of his son, John the Baptist (Lk 1:5-25). Zechariah, a priest, was performing his duty in the Temple when Gabriel appeared. This verse immediately follows the description of John being filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Lk 1:15), emphasizing that his significant mission is divinely enabled.
Within the broader context of Luke chapter 1, this prophecy of John serves as a divinely appointed precursor to the announcement of Jesus' miraculous birth (Lk 1:26-38), establishing John's role as the herald who prepares the way for the Messiah. The phrase "children of Israel" immediately places the mission within God's ongoing covenant history with His chosen people, who were then living under Roman occupation and often spiritually astray. The historical setting is Second Temple Judaism, marked by various religious groups (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes) and a general expectation for the Messiah, often intertwined with political hopes rather than profound spiritual transformation. John's message of "turning" challenged the superficial religious practices and called for a deep, heartfelt repentance necessary to genuinely encounter their Lord and His coming kingdom.
Luke 1 16 Word analysis
- And (καί - kai): A simple connective particle, linking John's mission in this verse to his anointing with the Holy Spirit from birth mentioned in the previous verse (Lk 1:15). It indicates continuity in the angel's prophecy regarding John's identity and purpose.
- he (αὐτός - autos): Refers directly to John the Baptist. This highlights that John is the specific agent through whom this significant spiritual movement will occur, though his power to do so comes from God (as implied in Lk 1:15).
- will turn (ἐπιστρέψω - epistrepsō): Future active indicative of epistrephō. This verb signifies to "turn back," "return," "convert," or "restore." It is a foundational biblical term, often translating the Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב) in the Septuagint. Its use here indicates not just a change in direction, but a spiritual reorientation – a repentance from wrong paths, neglect of God, or idolatry, back to Him. It's a powerful call to spiritual repentance and revival.
- many (πολλούς - pollous): Denotes a significant, substantial number, but not every single person. This qualifier is crucial, foreshadowing that while John's ministry would have wide impact, it would not lead to a universal turning among all Israelites, reflecting the ongoing theme of a "remnant" throughout biblical history.
- of the children of Israel (τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ - tōn huiōn Israēl): Literally "the sons of Israel," this phrase clearly identifies the primary recipients of John's ministry as the Jewish people, the covenant nation chosen by God. It underscores John's role within God's historical dealings with Israel, preparing them for their long-awaited Messiah.
- to the Lord (ἐπὶ Κύριον - epi Kyrion): "Kýrion" is the Greek word for "Lord," often used in the Septuagint to represent the divine name YHWH (Yahweh). This specifies the object of their turning: it is a return to a relationship with the sovereign God of Israel, the God of the covenant, not merely to moral improvement or religious tradition.
- their God (τὸν Θεὸν αὐτῶν - ton Theon autōn): "Theon" means God. The possessive pronoun "their" (autōn) strongly emphasizes the intimate covenant relationship that Israel had historically with God, underscoring that John's mission was to call them back to faithfulness to their unique God, whose covenant they had often neglected or dishonored.
Luke 1 16 Bonus section
The phrase "the Lord their God" (Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν αὐτῶν - Kyrion ton Theon autōn) carries significant theological weight. It serves as a direct reminder to Israel of their unique covenant relationship, often established with the pronouncement "I will be your God, and you will be my people." John’s mission was therefore not introducing something new, but restoring what had become diminished or neglected – the fundamental bond between the nation of Israel and their Redeemer God. This 'turning' was preparatory, laying the spiritual groundwork for receiving the promised Messiah, as it fostered a contrite heart open to divine truth. It's crucial to note that this was a turning "to the Lord their God," implying a departure from self-reliance, religious formalism, or other gods, back to faithful covenant obedience.
Luke 1 16 Commentary
Luke 1:16 encapsulates the divine blueprint for John the Baptist's pre-Messianic ministry, directly revealed by Gabriel. It underscores that John's role was profoundly spiritual: to instigate a turning (repentance) among a significant segment of the Jewish people. This turning was not to a new law or a new religion, but a redirection to their existing covenant God, YHWH. In a period marked by Roman occupation and various religious factions often characterized by outward observance over inward devotion, John's prophetic voice called for genuine inner transformation. He fulfilled the Old Testament prophetic anticipation of one who would prepare God's people by leading them back to authentic relationship with "the Lord their God," thereby making them ready for the appearance of the Messiah. This mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit (as per Lk 1:15), set the stage for the kingdom of God that Jesus would soon announce and establish. John’s ministry therefore was a powerful re-affirmation of core biblical truth: true encounter with God necessitates heartfelt repentance and a decisive turn back to Him.