Luke 1:76 kjv
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luke 1:76 nkjv
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
Luke 1:76 niv
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
Luke 1:76 esv
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luke 1:76 nlt
"And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
Luke 1 76 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD..." | Direct prophecy of the forerunner |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me..." | Prophecy of the Messiah's herald |
| Luke 1:17 | "...he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah..." | Angel Gabriel's prophecy of John's role |
| Matt 3:1-3 | In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness... | John fulfilling Isa 40:3 |
| Mark 1:2-3 | As it is written in Isaiah the prophet... a voice crying in the wilderness | John fulfilling Isa 40:3 (Mar 1:2 also Mal 3:1) |
| Luke 3:3-6 | He went into all the region around the Jordan... to prepare the way... | John's ministry described |
| John 1:23 | He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness..." | John's self-identification as the forerunner |
| Matt 11:9-10 | "...Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send my messenger...'" | Jesus confirms John's unique prophetic status |
| Luke 7:26-27 | Parallel account of Jesus' confirmation of John's unique status | Jesus affirms John's specific prophetic role |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes." | Prophecy of Elijah's return or forerunner |
| Matt 17:10-13 | "...Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him..." | Jesus identifies John as the promised Elijah |
| John 3:28 | "You yourselves bear me witness that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'" | John acknowledges his subordinate role |
| Luke 1:32 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High..." | "Most High" used for God, linked to Messiah |
| Acts 7:48-49 | "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands..." | "Most High" as a title for God's supremacy |
| Deut 18:15-18 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me..." | Promise of a coming prophet (ultimately Christ) |
| Isa 57:14 | "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction..." | Old Testament imagery of clearing a path |
| Hos 14:9 | "...for the ways of the LORD are right..." | God's ways are just, implies preparation for them |
| Ps 23:3 | "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." | God guiding in righteous paths |
| Isa 49:6 | "...I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | Broad context of God preparing for salvation |
| Isa 52:7 | "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news..." | Herald of good news, connecting to "preparing the way" |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "...return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious..." | Call to repentance, John's primary message |
| Acts 13:24 | "Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance..." | John's preparatory ministry summarized |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 76 Meaning
Luke 1:76 records a prophetic utterance by Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, concerning his infant son, John the Baptist. It declares John's divinely appointed destiny to be a prophet for the Most High God, serving as the immediate forerunner who would go before the Lord Himself to spiritually prepare the path for His coming and ministry. This verse sets the stage for John's unique and pivotal role in redemptive history, directly preceding the arrival of the Messiah.
Luke 1 76 Context
Luke 1:76 is a pivotal verse within Zechariah's Benedictus, a hymn of praise and prophecy (Luke 1:67-79) delivered after his tongue was miraculously loosed following the birth of his son, John. For months, Zechariah had been mute since doubting the angel Gabriel's message about John's birth. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, his first words are a powerful declaration of God's redemptive work. The preceding verses (Luke 1:68-75) speak of God's visitation to redeem His people and fulfill His covenant promises to Abraham, primarily referring to the coming Messiah. Luke 1:76 then transitions to specify John's crucial, subordinate role within this grand divine plan. It explicitly details John's prophetic calling and his function as the direct precursor to the Lord, setting the historical and theological stage for Jesus' public ministry.
Luke 1 76 Word analysis
- And you, child: The address directly to his infant son, "you, child" (Gk. kai su, paidion), signifies a personal, divinely inspired proclamation over John's life. "Child" (Gk. paidion) emphasizes his youth and innate innocence, yet destined for such a weighty purpose, highlighting divine election from birth.
- will be called: (Gk. klēthēsē - future passive of kaleō, "to call"). This signifies a public acknowledgement and divine designation. It's not just a descriptive name, but a prophetic declaration of his identity and divinely ordained function that will be recognized by others. His purpose will be clear and unmistakable.
- the prophet: (Gk. prophētēs). More than a fortuneteller, a prophet is one who speaks for God, acting as His mouthpiece. This confirms John's role as part of the continuous line of Israel's prophets, culminating this Old Covenant tradition. John's authority derives directly from God.
- of the Most High: (Gk. Hypsistou). This title for God emphasizes His supreme transcendence, ultimate power, and universal sovereignty. It corresponds to the Hebrew El Elyon in the Old Testament, denoting God as the highest, the ultimate authority above all others (Gen 14:18, Ps 78:35). John's message and commission come from the sovereign Creator of all.
- for you will go before: (Gk. prodramēsē, from protrechō, literally "run before"). This vividly describes John's role as a herald or forerunner. He precedes the greater one, clearing the way for his superior. It emphasizes his subordinate, yet essential, preparatory role.
- the Lord: (Gk. Kyriou). In the Septuagint, Kyrios often translates the Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHWH, referring to God. In the New Testament, especially in Luke, "the Lord" increasingly refers to Jesus Christ, demonstrating His divinity. John goes before Jesus, identifying Jesus as Yahweh, the Lord God.
- to prepare His ways: (Gk. hetoimasai hodous autou). This is Old Testament prophetic imagery (Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1). "To prepare ways" is a metaphor for removing obstacles, making smooth, or making ready. In the ancient world, a herald would go ahead of a king or dignitary to ensure the roads were clear, supply lines arranged, and people made ready for his arrival. Spiritually, John's "preparation" involved a message of repentance, calling people to turn from sin and be ready for the Messiah's kingdom. It signifies an inward, spiritual readiness of heart, moral transformation, and aligning oneself with God's will.
Luke 1 76 Bonus section
- The "Most High" is a recurring title for God in Zechariah's song, reinforcing God's majesty and sovereign plan (Luke 1:32, 1:35).
- The concept of "preparing the way" extends beyond moral repentance; it implies a theological and covenantal preparation, alerting Israel to the long-awaited Messianic fulfillment and the transition from the Old Covenant to the New.
- John's prophetic ministry contrasts with past prophets: he not only spoke about the coming one but physically stood before Him and pointed Him out (John 1:29-30).
- The wilderness setting of John's ministry (Matt 3:1-3, Luke 3:2-4) often symbolized a place of new beginnings, purification, and direct encounter with God in Old Testament history, reinforcing the idea of a fresh start for God's people as they prepared for the Lord.
- The fact that Zechariah's first words after his muteness were prophecy about John and then Christ further emphasizes the divine importance and immediacy of these events.
Luke 1 76 Commentary
Zechariah's Spirit-inspired words in Luke 1:76 precisely define John the Baptist's divinely appointed mission. He is the culminating figure of the Old Testament prophetic line, not just foretelling the future but speaking God's authoritative word and directing attention solely to the coming Messiah. His designation as "prophet of the Most High" underlines that his authority and message originated from the sovereign, supreme God. John's ministry was distinctly preparatory: "to prepare His ways" (the Lord's ways). This involved proclaiming a message of repentance and baptism, summoning people to acknowledge their sin and reorient their lives towards God, thereby clearing the spiritual and moral "road" for Jesus' arrival. John served as the final transitional figure, bridging the era of Law and Prophets with the dawn of the Kingdom inaugurated by Christ. His humble role as the one who makes straight the path allowed Jesus to be revealed as the Lord, fulfilling centuries of prophetic anticipation. This verse underscores the divine precision and careful unfolding of God's redemptive plan, with each figure fulfilling a specific, pre-ordained purpose.