Luke 1:80 kjv
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Luke 1:80 nkjv
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Luke 1:80 niv
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Luke 1:80 esv
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Luke 1:80 nlt
John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Luke 1 80 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 1:15 | "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord... and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." | John's Spirit-filling from birth, aligning with "strong in spirit." |
| Isa 40:3 | "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." | Prophecy about John's role and location of ministry. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me..." | Prophecy fulfilled by John as the Messiah's forerunner. |
| Jdg 13:24-25 | "And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him; and the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times..." | Parallel of divinely blessed growth and Spirit's anointing from youth. |
| 1 Sam 2:21 | "And the child Samuel grew before the LORD." | Parallel of spiritual growth and development of a future prophet. |
| 1 Sam 2:26 | "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." | Highlights favorable development and divine approval. |
| Lk 2:40 | "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." | Direct parallel describing Jesus' childhood development, echoing John's. |
| Lk 2:52 | "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." | Further emphasizes holistic growth of a divinely appointed person. |
| Ex 3:1-2 | "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro... and he led the flock to the backside of the desert... And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush..." | Wilderness as a place of preparation and divine encounter for a leader. |
| 1 Kgs 17:2-3 | "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith..." | Elijah's prophetic isolation in the wilderness for divine purpose. |
| 1 Kgs 19:4, 8 | "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness... And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." | Elijah's journey and encounter with God in a desolate region. |
| Deut 8:2 | "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart..." | Wilderness as a place of testing, discipline, and formation for God's people. |
| Mt 4:1-2 | "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights..." | Jesus' preparation and testing in the wilderness before ministry. |
| Gal 1:17 | "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." | Paul's period of seclusion for direct revelation and preparation for ministry. |
| Mic 3:8 | "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin." | Describes a prophet empowered by the Spirit for proclamation. |
| Eph 5:18 | "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..." | Command to be continuously empowered by the Spirit. |
| Jn 1:6-7 | "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe." | John's divine commission and public purpose. |
| Jn 1:31 | "And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." | John explicitly states his purpose: to make Jesus known to Israel. |
| Lk 3:2-3 | "The word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins..." | John's public emergence and the beginning of his ministry, fulfilling his "shewing." |
| Mt 3:1-2 | "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." | Records the beginning of John's public ministry. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." | General principle of Spirit empowerment for public witness/shewing. |
| Jn 1:19 | "And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?" | The initiation of John's public testimony and identity unveiling to Israel. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 80 Meaning
Luke 1:80 comprehensively describes the formative years of John the Baptist, indicating that he underwent a period of physical maturation, spiritual strengthening, and seclusion in the desolate regions. This entire process was a divine preparation, culminating in a specific, divinely appointed moment when he would emerge publicly to the nation of Israel as the forerunner of the Messiah.
Luke 1 80 Context
Luke 1:80 serves as the concluding summary to the birth narrative of John the Baptist. Preceding this verse, the chapter details the miraculous circumstances surrounding his conception and birth to elderly Zacharias and Elizabeth, the naming of John, and Zacharias's Spirit-inspired prophecy (known as the Benedictus). This prophecy already outlined John's future role as a prophet preparing the way for the Lord (Lk 1:76-77). Verse 80 thus bridges John's early life with the commencement of his public ministry, which is explicitly detailed in Luke Chapter 3.
Historically and culturally, the wilderness was a significant location in Jewish tradition, often associated with divine encounter, spiritual purification, prophetic solitude, and preparation for new beginnings. Major figures like Moses and Elijah experienced crucial periods of training and revelation in the desert. "Shewing unto Israel" highlights the national scope of John's mission and his official presentation as God's messenger to His chosen people, an event that would dramatically break the silence of the intertestamental period.
Luke 1 80 Word Analysis
- And (kai): A simple conjunction, yet crucial for continuity. It connects John's infancy and miraculous naming directly to his developmental years, indicating a seamless progression under divine superintendence.
- the child (to paidion): Refers to John. Paidion denotes a young child, emphasizing his continuous growth from infancy into a specific stage of preparation, as distinct from a fully mature adult.
- grew (euxanen): From Greek auxano, meaning "to grow, increase, make grow." The imperfect tense indicates continuous physical development and maturation, implying natural progression empowered by God's hand.
- and waxed strong (ekrataiouto): From krataioo, meaning "to be strong, be mighty, become mighty." The imperfect passive voice implies an ongoing process of being made strong, emphasizing that this spiritual empowerment was divinely given, not merely human effort.
- in spirit (pneumati): The dative of pneuma. This refers not simply to human will or character strength, but to a profound strengthening concerning John's inner, spiritual being. Given Lk 1:15, it points to his being filled with and continually empowered by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual robustness was essential for his prophetic task.
- and was (ēn): Imperfect of eimi, "to be." Signifies a continuous state of dwelling or living in a particular place.
- in the deserts (en tais erēmois): Erēmos (plural) translates to "a desolate place, wilderness, desert." These were unpopulated, rugged areas, typical of Judea, serving as places of separation from society, its corruptions, and mundane concerns. This isolation fostered deep spiritual formation and dependence on God.
- till the day (heōs hēmeras): Signifies a distinct period of time with a definite end. This underlines divine timing and appointment. John's time in the wilderness was not indefinite but had a specific, God-ordained culmination.
- of his shewing (autou anadeixeōs): Anadeixis (noun) means "a showing forth, demonstration, public appearance/presentation, inauguration." It's a stronger term than merely "appearing." It implies an official, divinely sanctioned revelation or "unveiling" of his identity and mission. John was being "presented" by God to Israel.
- unto Israel (epi ton Israēl): Explicitly states the intended audience for John's public ministry. His purpose was nationally focused, preparing the chosen people for their Messiah, signifying a fulfillment of prophecy and a renewal of covenant focus.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit": This phrase portrays a divinely superintended growth encompassing both physical maturation and crucial spiritual development. The "waxed strong in spirit" component highlights supernatural empowerment by the Holy Spirit, which was foundational for his unique calling as a prophet and forerunner.
- "and was in the deserts": This indicates John's deliberate seclusion and life away from conventional society. The wilderness served as a training ground, a place for communion with God, spiritual purification, and profound preparation, mirroring the experiences of previous great prophets like Moses and Elijah.
- "till the day of his shewing unto Israel": This phrase establishes the preordained climax of John's formative years. It signifies a specific, divinely appointed time when he would publicly emerge and manifest his prophetic role and identity to the entire nation of Israel, commencing his mission to prepare the way for the Lord.
Luke 1 80 Bonus Section
- John’s life in the wilderness, mentioned here, laid the groundwork for his ascetic lifestyle later described as subsisting on "locusts and wild honey" and wearing "camel's hair" (Mt 3:4; Mk 1:6). This detachment from worldly comforts further validated his prophetic authority and pure message.
- The appearance of John the Baptist after centuries of prophetic silence signaled a new epoch in God’s redemptive plan, stirring anticipation and preparing the way for Jesus Christ, just as promised in the Old Testament.
- The "deserts" also have theological significance, harking back to Israel's forty years in the wilderness, where God tested and provided for His people. John's ministry in this context symbolized a new exodus, a call for repentance, and a renewal of the covenant.
Luke 1 80 Commentary
Luke 1:80 concisely wraps up the first thirty years of John the Baptist’s life, serving as a vital bridge between his miraculous birth and the dramatic launch of his ministry. The phrase "grew, and waxed strong in spirit" reveals a dual development: natural physical growth paired with a profound, ongoing spiritual strengthening. This spiritual vigor was not self-generated but divinely endowed, signifying that John's spirit was increasingly empowered by the Holy Spirit, aligning with his being "filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb" (Lk 1:15).
His prolonged sojourn "in the deserts" highlights a period of intense preparation and separation. This wasn't merely a geographical fact, but a strategic divine placement. The wilderness served as a crucible for prophetic training, isolating John from worldly influences and fostering a deep intimacy with God, mirroring the paths of ancient prophets. This period cultivated self-denial, unwavering commitment, and a prophetic voice untainted by societal compromises. It was a time of refining and commissioning.
The verse culminates in "till the day of his shewing unto Israel." This phrase points to a meticulously planned divine timetable. John’s appearance was not accidental; it was a "shewing" or "public unveiling," a formal presentation ordained by God. His ministry was directed specifically to the people of Israel, underscoring his pivotal role as the last Old Testament prophet and the immediate forerunner of the Messiah, preparing the nation for the advent of Christ and the dawning of the new covenant age. It signifies God’s precise orchestration of salvation history.