Luke 1:6 kjv

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 1:6 nkjv

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 1:6 niv

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.

Luke 1:6 esv

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

Luke 1:6 nlt

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 6 Meaning

Luke 1:6 describes Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, as individuals of exemplary character and profound faith. They were deemed "righteous" by God Himself, indicating a deep, genuine, and covenantal right standing with Him. Their lives were characterized by consistent and comprehensive adherence to all of God's revealed commandments and ordinances, both moral and ceremonial, executed without reproach or legitimate accusation. This verse establishes their uprightness, integrity, and piety as a foundation for understanding God's divine favor upon them and the miraculous birth to follow.

Luke 1 6 Context

This verse appears in Luke's prologue to his Gospel, specifically within the opening narrative that introduces John the Baptist's miraculous birth. Before delving into the extraordinary divine intervention, Luke takes care to establish the exceptional spiritual character of John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah, a priest, and Elizabeth, from a priestly lineage, were part of a faithful remnant in Israel who earnestly practiced their faith in God during a time when spiritual fervor was often diluted. This emphasis on their personal piety serves as a critical backdrop, demonstrating that God's great redemptive work often begins not with the outwardly powerful or influential, but with the quiet, consistent faithfulness of ordinary individuals who walk rightly before Him. It also highlights a key theme in Luke's Gospel: God's concern for the humble, the righteous, and those forgotten by society.

Luke 1 6 Word analysis

• And they were both: The use of "both" highlights their shared moral and spiritual alignment. It points to a partnership in piety and indicates that Zechariah and Elizabeth were united in their devout practices and character, a significant trait for a couple whom God would choose for such a special purpose.
• righteous (Greek: dikaios, δίκαιος): This term signifies more than simply "doing the right thing." It denotes a person whose character and conduct are in accordance with God's divine standard and who stands in a right relationship with Him. It's a divinely given verdict, acknowledging their covenant fidelity and moral uprightness from God's perspective. It parallels Old Testament figures described as tzaddik (Hebrew), emphasizing not sinless perfection, but genuine commitment to God's will and an upright heart.
• before God (Greek: enopion tou Theou, ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ): This phrase is crucial as it clarifies that their righteousness was not merely an external display for human approval, but a true internal reality perceived and acknowledged by God Himself. God, who sees beyond outward appearance into the heart (1 Sam 16:7), attested to their authenticity. Their lives were lived in constant awareness of His presence and judgment, signifying profound piety and sincerity.
• walking (Greek: poreuomenoi, πορευόμενοι): A continuous, active participle, indicating their way of life, their consistent behavior, and their overall lifestyle. In biblical usage, "walking" (Hebrew: halakh) is a common idiom for one's conduct, manner of living, or habitual behavior. It means they continually ordered their lives in alignment with God's directives.
• in all the commandments (Greek: en pasais tais entolais, ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς): "All" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their obedience, implying that they sought to follow every moral law and divine instruction from God's revealed will (the Mosaic Law). It denotes a diligent effort to obey completely, not selectively. These are primarily the ethical precepts of the Torah, such as the Ten Commandments and their applications.
• and ordinances (Greek: kai dikaiōmasin, καὶ δικαιώμασιν): These refer to the righteous requirements, judgments, or ceremonial stipulations found within the Law of Moses. This includes ritual purity laws, sacrificial observances, dietary laws, and other cultic regulations that were fundamental to devout Jewish life. By adhering to both "commandments" (moral precepts) and "ordinances" (cultic/ceremonial rules), their devotion was holistically expressed, covering all aspects of their religious and daily life.
• of the Lord (Greek: tou Kyriou, τοῦ Κυρίου): Identifies the divine origin and authority of these laws. They were not human traditions but God's direct commands, obeyed out of reverence and love for Him. This phrase emphasizes the sovereign authority of God as the Lawgiver and the focus of their devotion.
• blamelessly (Greek: amemptoi, ἄμεμπτοι): This word does not signify sinless perfection, but rather that their conduct was "without fault," "above reproach," or "without just accusation" from any who observed them. While not asserting absolute freedom from sin (a concept rarely applied to humans in Scripture except Christ), it means they lived with such integrity and faithfulness that no one could justly point to a significant or habitual moral failing. Their public lives were consistent with their inner piety.

Luke 1 6 Bonus section

The inclusion of Zechariah and Elizabeth's blameless character at the outset of Luke's Gospel serves a significant literary and theological purpose. It connects the forthcoming events of Christ's arrival directly to a faithful lineage within Israel, underscoring continuity between the Old Covenant and the New. This initial portrayal of personal piety counters any notion that God chooses only the "perfect" or the outwardly powerful; rather, He works through those genuinely devoted, however obscure their station. Furthermore, this emphasis on their uprightness forms an implied contrast with those who merely practiced external religious observance without inner sincerity or full obedience. Luke subtly highlights that true piety, as exemplified by Zechariah and Elizabeth, is not simply adherence to tradition, but a profound and blameless walk "before God." Their narrative highlights that long-held prayers are often answered for those who remain steadfast in their faith, even amidst delayed expectations.

Luke 1 6 Commentary

Luke 1:6 paints a vivid picture of Zechariah and Elizabeth as exemplary figures of devout piety within Judaism. Their "righteousness before God" signifies that their inner disposition and outward conduct were pleasing to God, meeting His divine standard for covenantal faithfulness. They embodied the ideal of consistent obedience, not picking and choosing which of God's laws to follow, but embracing "all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord." This comprehensive "walking" in His ways, performed "blamelessly," implies an unwavering commitment to both the moral and ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law, free from hypocritical display or legitimate accusation. Their sterling character sets the stage for God's intervention, demonstrating that divine blessings often fall upon those who genuinely live lives consecrated to Him, reflecting a consistent biblical principle that faithfulness often precedes and enables miraculous divine action. Their lives provide a foundational illustration of sincere obedience leading to readiness for God's unique purpose.