Luke 1:7 kjv

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Luke 1:7 nkjv

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

Luke 1:7 niv

But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1:7 esv

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Luke 1:7 nlt

They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 7 Meaning

Luke 1:7 details the formidable human obstacles hindering Zechariah and Elisabeth from having a child: Elisabeth's barrenness and their advanced age. This verse establishes the natural impossibility of a birth, thereby underscoring that the eventual miraculous conception and birth of John the Baptist would be entirely a work of God, demonstrating His power and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises beyond human capability.

Luke 1 7 Context

Luke 1 introduces Zechariah and Elisabeth, devout and righteous individuals belonging to the priestly line. Before this verse, Luke establishes their blameless character and adherence to God's commandments (v. 6). Verse 7 immediately presents their fundamental sorrow: they were childless due to Elisabeth's infertility and their advanced years. This poignant detail is crucial as it sets the stage for the miraculous intervention of God, establishing that the coming birth of John the Baptist would not be a result of natural means but purely a divine act. This uncovers the necessity for an angel to announce a birth, thereby enhancing the magnitude and significance of God's fulfillment of His redemptive plan.

In ancient Jewish society, childlessness was often a source of great personal grief and social stigma, sometimes perceived as divine displeasure. Families, lineage, and the continuation of the household name were paramount. For a righteous priestly couple, their inability to have children would have been a particularly heavy burden. God frequently worked through such human impossibilities in the Old Testament to bring forth pivotal figures, emphasizing His sovereignty over human conditions.

Luke 1 7 Word analysis

• And they had no child: (Greek: kai ouk ēn autois teknon) This direct statement immediately conveys the couple's great sorrow and the human obstacle to their legacy. "No child" signifies not merely a lack of offspring, but the profound societal and personal void experienced by a barren couple in that culture.
• because: (Greek: dioti) This causal conjunction emphasizes that the reason for their childlessness is specifically tied to Elisabeth's condition and their age. It introduces the precise natural limitation God is about to overcome.
• Elisabeth was barren: (Greek: hē Elisabet ēn steira) Steira refers to sterility or infertility. This term strongly connects Elisabeth to a long line of significant Old Testament women who were initially barren (e.g., Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah). In each case, God's intervention in their barrenness highlighted the divine, miraculous nature of the child born, marking them as children of promise rather than natural human capability. It underscores God's control over life itself.
• and they both were now well stricken in years: (Greek: kai amphō probebēkotes en tais hēmerais autōn ēsan) Probebēkotes en tais hēmerais literally means "advanced in their days." This phrase signifies advanced old age. This compounds the impossibility of conception through natural means, even if Elisabeth's barrenness could somehow be overcome. It points to a situation where human hope and physical ability had long passed their prime, thus leaving no room for human contribution in the miracle that follows. This reinforces the "supernatural" aspect of John's birth, parallel to Isaac's birth to Abraham and Sarah.

Words-group analysis

• because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years: This entire phrase is critical. It lays out the double impossibility—biological infertility (Elisabeth's barrenness) and advanced age (for both)—presenting a completely closed door from a human perspective. This establishes the complete lack of human contribution to John's upcoming birth, ensuring that the credit for this significant event belongs solely to God, underscoring His sovereign power, His timing, and His faithfulness to His redemptive plan for humanity. This situation sets a pattern that God chooses "impossible" situations to reveal His might and fulfill His promises.

Luke 1 7 Bonus section

• The presentation of Zechariah and Elisabeth's situation (righteousness, yet barren and old) sets up a profound divine paradox: those seemingly cursed by circumstances (childlessness) are precisely chosen to receive an extraordinary blessing from God.
• This verse foreshadows and parallels Mary's miraculous conception, reinforcing the broader New Testament theme that God initiates His salvific work not through human strength or lineage, but through supernatural intervention and divine appointment.
• The emphasis on "stricken in years" implies a prolonged period of waiting and unanswered prayer, making the eventual fulfillment even more poignant and demonstrative of God's perfect timing and steadfastness, even when His people face extended trials or perceived silence.

Luke 1 7 Commentary

Luke 1:7 is a foundational verse that deliberately details the seemingly insurmountable biological barriers to the birth of John the Baptist. By explicitly stating Elisabeth's barrenness and the advanced age of both Zechariah and Elisabeth, Luke immediately elevates the impending birth from an ordinary event to a divine miracle. This context not only demonstrates God's power to overcome physical limitations but also aligns John's birth with a significant biblical pattern: God often brings forth His chosen instruments from situations of human impossibility, making it unmistakably clear that the work is His alone. This miracle testifies to God's ability to act beyond natural boundaries, fulfilling His purposes for history through divine intervention. The verse therefore establishes a profound theological point: where human strength and hope end, God's work begins, highlighting His omnipotence and faithfulness to those who walk in His righteousness.