Luke 1 66

Luke 1:66 kjv

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:66 nkjv

And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:66 niv

Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.

Luke 1:66 esv

and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:66 nlt

Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, "What will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 66 Meaning

Luke 1:66 reveals the profound impact of John the Baptist's miraculous birth and naming on those who witnessed it or heard of it. The people present, and others in the region, deeply considered the divine implications of these extraordinary events, recognizing that something unique was unfolding. This sense of wonder led them to ponder John's future destiny, implicitly acknowledging God's hand in his life from infancy. The verse culminates in the affirmation that the "hand of the Lord was with him," signifying divine favor, power, and guidance already active upon John, indicating his special prophetic calling and preparation for his future ministry.

Luke 1 66 Context

Luke 1:66 concludes the narrative surrounding John the Baptist's birth and naming. The preceding verses (Luke 1:57-65) describe Elizabeth giving birth, the attempt by relatives to name the child Zacharias after his father, Zacharias's miraculous restoration of speech after affirming the child's name as John (as revealed by the angel Gabriel), and the immediate spread of fear and awe among the neighbors. The astonishment regarding Zacharias's regained speech and the divine instruction for the child's name confirmed to the community that a unique event had transpired. This verse captures the communal response, setting the stage for Zacharias's Spirit-filled prophecy about John's destiny as the forerunner of the Lord (Luke 1:67-79). Historically, this occurred in a time of longing for a prophetic voice and messianic anticipation in Israel, making such miraculous signs particularly significant to the people.

Luke 1 66 Word analysis

• And all they that heard them: Connects this verse to the preceding account (Luke 1:65). It signifies that the knowledge of Zacharias's speech restoration and John's divinely appointed name quickly spread among a wide audience, highlighting the public nature of these miraculous events.
• laid them up in their hearts: Greek diethento en tais kardiais autōn (διετίθεντο ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν). This idiom means to carefully ponder, consider deeply, preserve in memory, or internalize something significant. It suggests an active mental and spiritual engagement with the extraordinary circumstances. This is similar to Mary's reaction to the birth and childhood of Jesus (Luke 2:19, 2:51), indicating a deep reflection on God's work.
• saying: Implies communal discussion, wonder, and verbal expression of their thoughts and questions. The shared discourse further emphasizes the impact of the events.
• What manner of child shall this be! Greek Tis ara to paidion touto estai? (Τίς ἄρα τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο ἔσται;). This is a rhetorical question expressing profound awe, wonder, and expectation. It reveals that the people perceived extraordinary potential and a unique destiny for this child, given the miraculous events surrounding his conception and birth. They instinctively sensed divine purpose in his life.
• And the hand of the Lord was with him: Greek Kai cheir Kyriou en met' autou (Καὶ χεὶρ Κυρίου ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ). This is a powerful biblical idiom signifying God's active presence, divine favor, protective power, and enabling grace. It indicates that God was not just watching over John but actively involved in guiding, sustaining, and empowering him, likely from a very young age or even from birth. This phrase marks John as someone specifically chosen and equipped by God for a special mission.

Luke 1 66 Bonus section

The phrase "the hand of the Lord was with him" subtly prepares the reader for John's future miraculous development and significant ministry, hinting at divine equipping that transcends normal human growth. This expression, echoing many Old Testament accounts (e.g., Joseph in Gen 39:2, Ezra 7:6), connects John directly into the lineage of those individuals especially chosen and empowered by God to fulfill His purposes, suggesting a continuity of divine providence in redemptive history. This verse also implicitly highlights God's preference for working through seemingly ordinary or impossible circumstances (like an old, barren couple) to manifest His extraordinary power, drawing attention away from human ability and solely onto divine will.

Luke 1 66 Commentary

Luke 1:66 underscores the powerful impact of divine intervention on the common people. The series of events surrounding John's birth—from an elderly, barren couple conceiving, to the angelic prophecy, to Zechariah's enforced silence, and finally his miraculous speech restoration upon naming his son John as commanded—created a deep sense of holy awe. The people's reaction of "laying them up in their hearts" demonstrates not mere curiosity, but a profound contemplation of these signs as direct communications from God. Their collective question, "What manner of child shall this be!" is rhetorical, conveying a recognition that John was no ordinary child; his life would be one of unique, divinely ordained purpose. This intuitive understanding is immediately affirmed by the narrator's crucial statement: "the hand of the Lord was with him." This affirmation elevates the wonder of the crowd to a definitive theological declaration, marking John from infancy as set apart by God for His specific redemptive plan. It signifies divine ownership, protection, and empowering for the foundational ministry John would undertake as the forerunner to the Messiah.