Luke 1 41

Luke 1:41 kjv

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Luke 1:41 nkjv

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41 niv

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41 esv

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

Luke 1:41 nlt

At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 41 Meaning

Luke 1:41 describes the powerful moment of divine recognition during Mary's visit to Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb, John, leaped in profound excitement. Concurrently, Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling her to discern and affirm Mary's miraculous pregnancy and the Messiah's presence within her. This verse signifies the anointing of John the Baptist from birth as the forerunner of Jesus, and the immediate, Spirit-inspired validation of Jesus' messianic identity even before His birth.

Luke 1 41 Context

Luke chapter 1 sets the stage for the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus. It opens with Zechariah's angelic visitation announcing John's birth, followed by Mary's visitation announcing Jesus' birth. Mary, after receiving her incredible news, "went with haste" (Lk 1:39) to visit her relative Elizabeth. This verse marks the climactic moment of their meeting, where the unborn John immediately reacts to the presence of the unborn Jesus, and Elizabeth, being Spirit-filled, offers profound theological insights validating God's promises. Historically, such visits between family members were common, but this specific encounter is imbued with divine significance, highlighting the convergence of Old Testament prophecy with the dawning New Covenant. It underscores the divine orchestration of events, particularly how the precursor, John, acknowledges the Messiah even before birth, validating Gabriel's words to both Zechariah and Mary.

Luke 1 41 Word analysis

• And (kai - καὶ): Connects Elizabeth's hearing to the subsequent events, indicating an immediate cause-and-effect, a pivotal transition.
• it happened (egeneto - ἐγένετο): A common Septuagintal and New Testament term (often "it came to pass") denoting the unfolding of events under divine sovereignty; signals a divinely orchestrated moment.
• as (hōs - ὡς): Indicates a direct temporal relationship, "at the very moment that" or "when."
• heard (ēkousen - ἤκουσεν): Elizabeth's auditory reception; more than just hearing, it implies a perception that triggers a response.
• the voice (tēn phōnēn - τὴν φωνὴν): Specifically the sound, or utterance, of Mary's greeting. The vehicle of divine trigger.
• of the greeting (tou aspasmou - τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ): Refers to Mary's verbal salutation. It was this ordinary, human action that precipitated extraordinary, divine action.
• of Mary (Mariēs - Μαρίας): Identifies the speaker, reinforcing that her presence (and implicitly, the one within her) carried spiritual authority.
• the Elizabeth (hē Elisabet - ἡ Ἐλισάβετ): Indicates that Elizabeth is the recipient, highlighting her receptivity to God's moving.
• leaped (esķirtēsen - ἐσκίρτησεν): From skirtaō, meaning to leap, spring, bound, or stir vigorously. Used uniquely for fetal movement here, conveying deep, joyful agitation, prophetic recognition, and possibly worship.
• the baby (to brephos - τὸ βρέφος): Specifically refers to the unborn infant, John. The text emphasizes his unprompted, internal response.
• in her womb (en tē koilia autēs - ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς): Locates the movement, stressing the immediate and involuntary nature of John's reaction within his mother. This is where his calling began.
• and (kai - καὶ): Links the two distinct but simultaneous divine actions: John's leap and Elizabeth's Spirit-filling.
• was filled (eplēsthē - ἐπλήσθη): Denotes a sudden, complete, and empowering infusion. It's not a gradual process but an instantaneous infilling.
• of Holy Spirit (pneumatos hagiou - πνεύματος ἁγίου): Specifies the agent of Elizabeth's sudden insight and prophecy. This infilling provides divine discernment and utterance, directly connecting to the Old Testament concept of prophetic inspiration.

Words-Group Analysis

• "As Elizabeth heard the voice of the greeting of Mary": This phrase sets up the pivotal moment. It’s the simple act of Mary’s salutation that precipitates extraordinary, Spirit-wrought events. This seemingly mundane interaction serves as the divine catalyst for revelation, emphasizing God's ability to use ordinary means for His extraordinary purposes.
• "The baby in her womb leaped": This physical manifestation of "leaping" is crucial. It points to John's pre-natal prophetic ministry and anointing. The verb "esķirtēsen" suggests an involuntary, joyful, and possibly worshipful response to the presence of the Messiah, echoing joyful expressions in Old Testament Psalms and prophetically fulfilling John's role as the herald. It signifies recognition beyond normal human capability.
• "And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit": This phrase is key to understanding the source of Elizabeth's subsequent understanding and prophecy (Lk 1:42-45). The Holy Spirit directly intervenes, granting Elizabeth immediate, divine revelation. This supernatural filling authenticates the moment, confirming both John’s Spirit-empowered recognition of Jesus and the miraculous nature of Mary's conception. It connects the events to a lineage of Spirit-filled prophets and prepares Elizabeth to speak forth God's truth.

Luke 1 41 Bonus section

The "leaping" (Greek: skirtaō) of the baby John in the womb holds significant theological weight. It is not merely a common fetal movement but interpreted as a prophetic act, reminiscent of spiritual rejoicing and acknowledgment. This verb is also used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) for expressions of joy, such as in Ps 114:4, "The mountains skipped (skirtaō) like rams," indicating exultant praise. This reinforces that John's leap was a pre-conscious, Spirit-initiated act of worship and recognition, establishing him from the earliest possible moment as the Spirit-filled forerunner who recognized and rejoiced in the presence of his Lord. This profound act, alongside Elizabeth's Spirit-filling, positions this encounter as the inaugural spiritual fulfillment of prophecies concerning John's anointing from birth (Lk 1:15). It shows that God's plans are sovereignly unfolding, acknowledged even by the unborn and affirmed by Spirit-filled believers, providing an immediate divine stamp of approval on Jesus' advent.

Luke 1 41 Commentary

Luke 1:41 encapsulates a moment of profound spiritual discernment and prophetic validation. It portrays John the Baptist, still in the womb, performing his first prophetic act by acknowledging his Lord's presence through an exuberant "leap." This physical movement is immediately followed by Elizabeth, his mother, being "filled with the Holy Spirit," granting her supernatural insight into Mary's unique blessedness and the true identity of the child she carried. This instant, double manifestation—the Spirit empowering the unborn forerunner and then the mother—authenticates the messianic identity of Jesus even before His birth, proving God's active involvement and presence in these extraordinary events. It's a testament to the Spirit's power to reveal truth and ignite joy in anticipation of the Messiah. This verse offers an early demonstration of the Holy Spirit's role in the new covenant, not only empowering believers for ministry but also facilitating divine revelation and joy. It emphasizes that God recognizes and sets apart individuals for His purpose even from the womb, and that true spiritual recognition comes through divine illumination rather than human reasoning.

Examples:

• This immediate spiritual recognition from John, still unborn, serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual truth can transcend conventional understanding, like children recognizing their parents even before full comprehension.
• Just as the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth, He fills believers today, empowering them to discern God's will and express divine truth, like receiving sudden clarity in prayer about a decision or understanding a difficult Scripture passage.
• John's joyful leap prefigures the joy of meeting Christ. True joy often comes when we recognize the Lord's presence, whether through worship, answered prayer, or fellow believers.