Devine Scripture

Luke 1:76

What does Luke 1:76 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:76 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:76 means

Zacharias foretells that John will be called the prophet of the Most High and will prepare the Lord’s ways. This assigns John a clear prophetic vocation, aligning him with God’s mission to ready Israel for the Lord. He is not the deliverer himself but an executor of prophetic preparation, calling people to repentance and pointing ahead to the coming Savior, fulfilling the angel’s earlier announcement about his role in God’s plan.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And thou, child, shalt be called [the] prophet of [the] Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of [the] Lord to make ready his ways;

Context

This verse transitions from general salvation themes to the specific role of John. After delineating God’s purposes, Zacharias identifies John as the immediate agent in preparing the people. The next verse explains the substance of his message: knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sins.

v.75In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

v.76This passage

v.77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 11:9

    But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

  • Luke 3:4

    as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

  • Mark 1:2

    Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way;

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Luke 6:35

    But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

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