Luke 1:73 kjv
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Luke 1:73 nkjv
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
Luke 1:73 niv
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
Luke 1:73 esv
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
Luke 1:73 nlt
the covenant he swore with an oath
to our ancestor Abraham.
Luke 1 73 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make you a great nation... And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | Initial Abrahamic promise |
| Gen 15:18 | "On that day the Lᴏʀᴅ made a covenant with Abram..." | Covenant established by God |
| Gen 17:7 | "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants... for an everlasting covenant." | Everlasting nature of covenant |
| Gen 22:16-18 | "By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ, because you have done this... and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." | God's solemn oath to Abraham |
| Deut 7:8 | "...the Lᴏʀᴅ kept the oath which He swore to your fathers." | God's faithfulness to oath |
| Mic 7:20 | "You will give truth to Jacob and loyal love to Abraham, which You swore to our fathers from the days of old." | Fidelity to ancient promises |
| Lk 1:54-55 | "He has helped His servant Israel... as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever." | Remembers Abrahamic promise |
| Pss 105:8-10 | "He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham..." | Everlasting and binding covenant |
| Pss 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant: 'Your seed I will establish forever..." | God's oath extended (Davidic) |
| Heb 6:13-15 | "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself..." | God's self-binding oath |
| Heb 6:17-18 | "Thus God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath..." | Unchangeable divine purpose |
| Rom 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham... that he would be heir of the world, was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." | Promise based on faith not law |
| Gal 3:8 | "the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.'" | Gospel foretold in Abraham |
| Gal 3:16 | "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ." | The Seed is Christ |
| Isa 60:21 | "...a branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified." | Covenant fulfillment imagery |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, days are coming, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ, when I will make a new covenant..." | Foreshadows New Covenant |
| Ezk 37:25-27 | "My servant David will be their ruler... an everlasting covenant of peace." | Davidic/Messianic fulfillment |
| Rom 11:28-29 | "as concerning the election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." | God's irrevocable promises |
| Eph 2:12 | "...strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." | Gentilic exclusion (contrast) |
| Titus 1:2 | "in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began..." | God's truthfulness guarantees |
| Lk 1:72 | "to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant—" | Immediate preceding context |
| Heb 8:6 | "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." | Superior New Covenant in Christ |
| Act 3:25-26 | "You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'" | Abrahamic blessing in Christ |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 73 Meaning
Luke 1:73 states that God remembers and acts upon "the oath which He swore to Abraham our father." This verse, part of Zechariah's prophetic hymn, the Benedictus, underscores the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His ancient covenant promise. It signifies that the salvation manifested in the birth of John the Baptist and the imminent arrival of the Messiah is not a new, sudden event but the divinely purposed culmination of promises made centuries earlier to Abraham. The "oath" signifies an unbreakable, self-imposed commitment from God, guaranteeing His redemptive plan for His people.
Luke 1 73 Context
Luke 1:73 is found within Zechariah's prophetic song, the "Benedictus" (Lk 1:68-79), uttered immediately after his tongue was loosed following the naming of his son, John. Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies about the coming salvation and the role of his son, John, as the forerunner of the Messiah. The verses preceding (Lk 1:70-72) establish that God's plan of salvation has been spoken by His holy prophets from ancient times, highlighting His remembrance of His holy covenant and His mercy shown to the fathers.
Historically, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation, longing for the fulfillment of messianic prophecies, often with a desire for political liberation. Zechariah's prophecy, however, points to a spiritual salvation: deliverance from enemies is interpreted not merely as foreign oppressors but from sin (Lk 1:74, 77). This prophecy roots the Messiah's coming squarely in God's historical interaction with Israel, particularly through the Abrahamic covenant. The original audience would have held the Abrahamic covenant central to their identity and national hope, thus connecting current events to God's ancient, trustworthy promises.
Luke 1 73 Word analysis
to perform (Greek: poiēsai): Implies "to bring about," "to make good," or "to fulfill." This word emphasizes God's active, decisive execution of His promise. It is not just a passive remembrance, but a powerful bringing to completion of His sworn word. This speaks to God's sovereign agency and omnipotence.
the oath (Greek: horkon): Refers to a solemn, binding divine promise, often fortified by an appeal to God's own being or reputation, making it exceptionally strong and unchangeable. In the ancient world, an oath was considered the most sacred form of promise, establishing the speaker's ultimate commitment. God bound Himself with an oath, providing supreme assurance (Heb 6:13-18).
which He swore (Greek: hon ōmosen): The verb "swore" confirms that God Himself initiated and affirmed this unbreakable promise. It highlights the divine prerogative and choice to pledge His faithfulness, demonstrating His unwavering integrity and the certainty of the promise's fulfillment. This phrase asserts God's own character as the guarantee.
to Abraham (Greek: tō Abraam): The direct recipient of the foundational promises (land, seed, blessing to all nations). The focus here is on the original covenant, stressing its centrality to God's redemptive plan and establishing the lineage of blessing.
our father (Greek: patros hēmōn): A term of endearment and identification, connecting Zechariah (and by extension, the Jewish people) directly to their revered progenitor, Abraham. This emphasizes the covenant's continuous validity through generations and their rightful inheritance in God's plan, which culminates in Christ's work for all, Jew and Gentile.
"to perform the oath": This phrase emphasizes the reliability and active nature of God's covenant-keeping. It means God isn't merely recalling the oath but is actively bringing it to fruition. The gap of centuries since Abraham's time does not diminish God's commitment but rather highlights His perfect timing and faithfulness in its fulfillment through the Messiah.
"the oath which He swore": This grouping reinforces the divine solemnity and inviolability of the promise. It underscores that God's character stands behind the oath, ensuring its unchangeable nature. Human promises may fail, but a divine oath is absolute. This provides immense confidence in God's plan.
"to Abraham our father": This phrase firmly grounds the Messianic salvation in the historical and ancestral context of Israel. It links God's contemporary actions directly to His ancient promises made to the foundational patriarch. It is a reminder that the blessings for Israel, and eventually for all nations, flow directly from God's fidelity to Abraham, creating a continuous thread of redemptive history.
Luke 1 73 Bonus section
- The Abrahamic Covenant, as referred to in this verse, is understood as largely unconditional. God's promises in Genesis 12, 15, and 17, and particularly in Genesis 22, are self-attesting divine pledges, contingent only on God's own faithfulness, not on human obedience for their ultimate fulfillment.
- In ancient cultures, an oath (especially a self-sworn divine oath) carried the utmost weight and was far more solemn than a mere promise. God's swearing by Himself signifies that there is no greater authority by which He could swear, underscoring the absolute certainty and irrevocability of His covenant.
- Zechariah, who had previously been struck dumb for doubting the angel Gabriel's promise regarding John's birth, is now filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesying about God's absolute faithfulness to His own oath. This personal experience serves as a powerful testimony to divine grace and the sovereign power of God's word.
- While focusing on the Abrahamic covenant, this fulfillment in Christ also implicitly links to the Davidic Covenant, as the promised "seed" who brings ultimate salvation (Gal 3:16) is the Christ, who is both the Seed of Abraham and the Son of David (Lk 1:32).
- Luke, as an evangelist, often emphasizes the historical reliability and precise details of events. This verse highlights how salvation is embedded in God's real-time interaction with humanity over millennia, culminating in verifiable historical events (birth of John, Christ's advent).
Luke 1 73 Commentary
Luke 1:73 is a pivotal declaration of divine faithfulness within Zechariah's prophecy. It reveals that the coming of the Messiah and the salvation He brings are not an arbitrary new development but the divinely purposed culmination of God's unchangeable promises to Abraham. The "oath" signifies an absolutely binding commitment by God, based on His very being and integrity, ensuring its performance regardless of human failings or delays. This means believers can rest in the absolute certainty of God's word. The repeated emphasis on Abraham as "our father" grounds this global, redemptive act firmly in Israel's history, showcasing God's consistent plan for the redemption of humanity through Abraham's "Seed," Jesus Christ. This deep connection affirms the continuity of God's work across dispensations and offers profound assurance that all His promises will ultimately find their "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ. Practically, this truth invites believers to trust in God's long-term plan even amidst short-term difficulties, knowing His purposes will always be fulfilled according to His unbreakable word.