Luke 1:5 kjv

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.

Luke 1:5 nkjv

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke 1:5 niv

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

Luke 1:5 esv

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke 1:5 nlt

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 5 Meaning

Luke 1:5 introduces Zechariah and Elizabeth, a devout priestly couple in Judea, living during the reign of King Herod. The verse highlights their exemplary character, describing them as righteous before God and meticulously obedient to all of God's commandments and statutes, walking in blameless integrity.

Luke 1 5 Context

Luke's Gospel, uniquely among the synoptics, begins with a meticulously detailed introduction to the circumstances surrounding the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Verse 5 acts as the formal historical and social setting for the pivotal events about to unfold. It places the narrative within a concrete historical era: "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea," grounding the spiritual account firmly in secular history, a characteristic of Luke's writing. This period marks a time when Judea was under Roman provincial rule, but with Herod the Great serving as a client king appointed by Rome. Herod’s reign (37-4 BC) was characterized by significant building projects, but also immense cruelty and paranoia. Spiritually, it was a time of anticipation for the Messiah, yet marked by political oppression and various religious sects within Judaism. Into this world, Zechariah, a priest from a specific course (Abijah), and his wife Elizabeth, also of Aaronic descent, are introduced as exemplary figures of righteousness and devotion, despite a major personal sorrow that would typically indicate a divine curse or displeasure in that culture: their barrenness. This sets up a profound paradox that God is about to address.

Luke 1 5 Word analysis

• There was: Establishes existence within a specified time and place, introducing the primary characters.
• in the days: A temporal marker, anchoring the narrative to a precise historical period rather than a legendary past.
• of Herod: Refers to Herod the Great, the Roman-appointed King of Judea (reigned 37-4 BC). His reign signifies a period of Roman domination over Israel and internal political turmoil, setting a key historical framework.
• the king of Judea: Specifies Herod's political domain, denoting Roman authority and the political realities faced by the Jewish people. This period, ending shortly after Jesus' birth, marked a significant historical cusp.
• a priest: Greek hiereus (ἱερεύς). An individual from the lineage of Aaron, designated by God for sacred service in the Temple, offering sacrifices, mediating between God and man. This role signified dedication to God's covenant and law.
• named Zechariah: Greek Zacharias (Ζαχαρίας), a Greek form of the Hebrew Zekaryah (זְכַרְיָה) meaning "Yahweh remembers." His name is profoundly symbolic given the impending divine intervention that breaks a long period of prophetic silence.
• of the division of Abijah: Greek ephēmerias Abia (ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά). Refers to one of the 24 priestly courses established by King David (1 Chron 24:10). Priests served in the Temple for one week, twice a year, ensuring continuous sacrificial and liturgical duties. This detail is highly specific, underscoring Luke's historical precision.
• and his wife: Implies a marital bond, underscoring a conventional and righteous family unit, critical in the context of Old Testament narratives where family lines were crucial.
• was from the daughters of Aaron: Greek ek tōn thugaterōn Aarōn (ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἀαρών). Signifies Elizabeth's pure priestly lineage, emphasizing her suitability as a priest's wife and reinforcing the couple's profound connection to the divinely established Temple worship and Mosaic Law. This meant John the Baptist would also be of priestly descent.
• and her name was Elizabeth: Greek Elisabeth (Ἐλισάβετ), a Greek form of the Hebrew Elisheba (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), meaning "My God is oath" or "God of abundance." Her name, like Zechariah's, anticipates the fulfillment of God's covenant promises.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea": This phrase precisely sets the historical stage for the events, dating the spiritual narrative within the known political realities of the ancient world. Luke, as a meticulous historian, places the advent of the Messiah within verifiable chronological boundaries, underscoring the historicity of his account. It highlights the political authority of Rome, yet underscores God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and nations in ushering in His kingdom.
• "a priest named Zechariah of the division of Abijah": This detail establishes Zechariah's identity and professional life within the highly structured Jewish Temple system. It signifies his membership in the specific course tasked with temple duties at certain times of the year, confirming his official capacity and adherence to religious regulations. It validates him as a legitimate figure, not a rogue prophet.
• "and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth": This emphasizes Elizabeth's equally prestigious and pure priestly lineage, affirming the couple's joint commitment to religious observance and their traditional Hebrew heritage. Their shared background in the priesthood marks them as devout representatives of the Old Covenant system from whom the forerunner of the New Covenant would arise.
• "and they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord": This composite description (often appearing in Lk 1:6 for emphasis, but fully contextualizing 1:5) is the heart of the verse, providing a spiritual assessment of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Their "righteousness before God" (Greek dikaioi enantion Theou) means their lives were upright and pleasing in God's sight, not just by human standards. "Walking blamelessly" (Greek poreuomenoi amemptoi) signifies consistent obedience to all of God's revealed law – "commandments and statutes of the Lord" (entolais kai dikaiomasin tou Kyriou). This depicts a complete devotion and adherence to the Mosaic Law, representing the highest ideals of Old Covenant piety. This integrity is critical, as it prepares the reader for God's extraordinary intervention in their seemingly ordinary, though sorrowful, lives, highlighting that their barrenness was not due to personal sin.

Luke 1 5 Bonus section

The choice of Zechariah (meaning "Yahweh remembers") and Elizabeth (meaning "My God is oath" or "God of abundance") is highly symbolic, acting as a profound word-picture for God remembering His covenant promises and acting on them. This verse deliberately connects to the long line of biblical narratives featuring divinely-enabled births to previously barren women (e.g., Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah), suggesting that God's grand plan of redemption often begins in human impossibility. The explicit historical setting also sets Luke's Gospel apart, emphasizing that salvation history unfolds within the real-world political and social landscape, not in a mythical realm. The meticulous detailing of the priestly division underscores Luke’s desire to present an orderly account, likely from extensive research, emphasizing the legitimacy and order of God's redemptive actions within a structured, well-known Jewish context. This introductory framework primes the reader for God's breaking of prophetic silence and miraculous intervention that ushers in the messianic era.

Luke 1 5 Commentary

Luke 1:5 functions as a deliberate historical anchor and character introduction, crucial for understanding the foundational premise of John the Baptist's and subsequently Jesus' birth narratives. By specifying the reign of Herod, Luke firmly roots his theological narrative in verifiable historical time, inviting serious engagement with his claims. The introduction of Zechariah and Elizabeth as a priestly couple, both of Aaronic descent, signals the significant link between the Old Covenant, with its emphasis on the Temple and priestly service, and the imminent arrival of the New Covenant through the Messiah.

Their depiction as "righteous before God" and "walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord" establishes them as paragons of Old Covenant piety. This spiritual integrity is essential. In a culture where childlessness was often perceived as a sign of divine disfavor (even a curse), the emphasis on their blamelessness underscores that their barrenness was not due to their lack of faith or obedience. Instead, it serves to highlight divine sovereignty: God's plans are not bound by human expectation or natural limitations. This perfect obedience under the Old Covenant prepares the stage for the dramatic, divinely initiated transition to the New, where God's promises are fulfilled not through human merit alone, but through His sovereign grace. This couple thus embodies the highest faithful adherence to the Old Law, creating a poignant contrast for the miracle that would shatter the status quo. Their lives remind us that God sometimes orchestrates "impossible" situations precisely to showcase His power and fulfill His eternal purposes.