Luke 1 77

Luke 1:77 kjv

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Luke 1:77 nkjv

To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,

Luke 1:77 niv

to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

Luke 1:77 esv

to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

Luke 1:77 nlt

You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 77 Meaning

Luke 1:77 reveals a primary purpose of John the Baptist's ministry: to impart knowledge of salvation to God's people. This salvation is directly and specifically achieved through the forgiveness of their sins. It highlights that understanding God's plan for deliverance and experiencing spiritual freedom from sin are intrinsically linked, foundational to genuine salvation brought by the Messiah whom John announced.

Luke 1 77 Context

Luke 1:77 is part of the "Benedictus" (Luke 1:68-79), Zechariah's prophetic hymn, uttered after his son John (the Baptist) is born and his own muteness ends. Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses God for His visitation and redemption of His people, identifying John's role within God's greater redemptive plan. The preceding verses (Lk 1:76) specifically outline John's destiny as the prophet preparing the way for the Lord. This verse therefore explains how John's preparatory work facilitates salvation—by bringing clarity about the means of deliverance through divine pardon, anticipating the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who would accomplish this forgiveness. Historically, Israel often equated salvation with national liberation; Zechariah's prophecy elevates this to a spiritual liberation from sin.

Luke 1 77 Word analysis

• to give: (Greek: didōmi) Implies bestowing, granting, or imparting. It's an active act of making something available or known. Here, it refers to a revelatory function – John’s ministry would clarify God’s plan.
• knowledge: (Greek: gnōsis) Not merely intellectual awareness, but an intimate, experiential, and transforming understanding. In a biblical context, gnosis of God often implies a personal relationship or a saving understanding of divine truth, which is far deeper than mere factual acquaintance. It's the practical, effective recognition of how God works.
• of salvation: (Greek: sōtēria) Encompasses deliverance, preservation, healing, and wellbeing. In this spiritual context, it signifies liberation from sin's penalty, power, and ultimately its presence, leading to reconciliation with God and eternal life. It points to a comprehensive redemption, far exceeding political or temporal freedom.
• to his people: Refers to the people of Israel, chosen by God as recipients of His covenant promises. However, in the wider New Testament narrative, "his people" expands to include all who believe, Jew or Gentile, through the Messiah (e.g., Rom 9:25-26, 1 Pet 2:9-10). John's initial ministry focused on preparing Israel for their Messiah.
• by the forgiveness: (Greek: aphesis) Means release, dismissal, remission, or pardon. Specifically here, it means release from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin. This term is crucial, as it states the means by which salvation is apprehended. True deliverance is inseparable from the pardoning of offenses.
• of their sins: (Greek: hamartia) Refers to offenses against God, falling short of His divine standard, disobedience, or transgression. The plurality emphasizes the multitude of human failings that necessitate divine pardon for salvation.

Words-group analysis:

• to give knowledge of salvation: This phrase highlights John's primary didactic and revelatory role. He wasn't the salvation, but the revealer of how to receive it. He illuminated God’s method of delivering His people from their spiritual plight.
• by the forgiveness of their sins: This identifies the critical mechanism or prerequisite for this spiritual salvation. It underscores that deliverance from divine judgment and reconciliation with God can only occur through God’s act of pardoning human transgressions. This was a radical shift from focusing solely on ritual purity to true heart repentance leading to divine remission.

Luke 1 77 Bonus section

The "knowledge of salvation" spoken of here isn't a mere theological fact, but an empowered, experiential understanding that changes lives. It stands in contrast to common Jewish expectations of the Messiah primarily as a political deliverer. Zechariah, through divine inspiration, refocuses the Messianic hope on spiritual redemption from sin, highlighting God’s moral governance over the human condition. This divine priority, set even before Jesus’ public ministry, clarifies that salvation is primarily spiritual, addressing the core human problem of alienation from God due to sin, which then brings holistic wellbeing.

Luke 1 77 Commentary

Luke 1:77 succinctly captures the profound truth central to the Gospel: salvation is inextricably linked to the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist's divinely appointed mission was to prepare humanity by clarifying this essential pathway to God. His ministry made plain that a right standing with God, leading to genuine spiritual freedom and restoration, hinges not on human merit or adherence to ritual law alone, but on divine pardon for human transgression. Zechariah's prophecy articulates a core Christian doctrine: one must first acknowledge sin and then receive God's grace through forgiveness to enter into the experience of salvation. This prepared the ground for Jesus, who ultimately secured this forgiveness through His atoning sacrifice. It guides us to understand that self-awareness of sin is the first step towards apprehending God's mercy. For instance, like a deeply indebted person needs knowledge of a path to debt cancellation (forgiveness) to achieve financial freedom (salvation), humanity needed to understand that spiritual freedom comes through God’s remission of sin.