Devine Scripture

Luke 1:73

What does Luke 1:73 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:73 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:73 means

He references the oath God swore to Abraham, emphasizing God’s binding promise to give blessing through Abraham’s seed. The oath language underscores the certainty and solemnity of God’s commitment. Zacharias highlights that current events flow from that sworn promise, demonstrating God’s intention to fulfill his word in history, linking the birth of John and Jesus to the Abrahamic covenant and its long-term purposes.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

An oath that He sware to Abraham our father,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

[the] oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

Context

This verse follows the theme of covenantal memory and names Abraham specifically. By invoking the oath to Abraham, Zacharias connects salvation to the earliest covenantal promise. The subsequent lines elaborate how this fulfillment enables Israel’s worship and service in freedom.

v.72To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

v.73This passage

v.74To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

Cross references

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

  • Deuteronomy 7:8

    but because Jehovah loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath Jehovah brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  • Psalms 105:9

    The covenantwhich he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac,

  • Deuteronomy 7:12

    And it shall come to pass, because ye hearken to these ordinances, and keep and do them, that Jehovah thy God will keep with thee the covenant and the lovingkindness which he sware unto thy fathers:

  • Genesis 26:3

    sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

  • Hebrews 6:13

    For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,

  • Genesis 24:7

    Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.

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