Devine Scripture

Luke 1:78

What does Luke 1:78 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:78 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:78 means

Zacharias explains this work flows from God’s tender mercy, promising the ‘dayspring from on high’ will visit us. The language is pastoral and poetic: mercy is the motivation, and the ‘dayspring’—a metaphor for dawn—describes the coming light of God’s intervention, echoing themes of illumination and hope. The verse connects John’s preparatory role to God’s compassionate initiative that culminates in the arrival of the Messiah’s light.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Through the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

on account of [the] bowels of mercy of ourGod; wherein [the] dayspring from on high has visited us,

Context

This verse interprets John’s mission theologically: he prepares the way because of God’s mercy and the approaching divine visitation. It stands at the center of Zacharias’s prophecy, linking mercy with expectant hope for salvation’s dawn.

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

v.78This passage

v.79To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Cross references

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

  • Zechariah 6:12

    and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah;

  • Ephesians 5:14

    Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

  • Numbers 24:17

    I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.

  • Philippians 1:8

    For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

  • Philippians 2:1

    If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

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