Devine Scripture

Luke 1:72

What does Luke 1:72 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:72 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:72 means

He says God will show mercy to their fathers and remember his holy covenant. Zacharias roots salvation in divine mercy and covenant faithfulness to previous generations. The action is not merely political but theological: God acts to honor his commitments. Remembering the covenant implies God reactivates his promises, ensuring continuity and fulfillment for Israel’s future through compassionate action.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

To perform mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy testament.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant,

Context

This verse continues the explanation of salvation’s purposes. After mentioning deliverance from enemies, Zacharias stresses mercy and covenant remembrance. It ties the present events to the promises God made to the patriarchs and frames them as continuations of divine fidelity.

v.71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

v.72This passage

v.73The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Micah 7:20

    Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

  • Psalms 105:8

    He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

  • Psalms 111:5

    He hath given food unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant.

  • Genesis 12:3

    and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou becamest mine.

  • Genesis 17:4

    As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.

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