Devine Scripture

Luke 1:8

What does Luke 1:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:8 means

While Zacharias was serving in his priestly duties, Luke notes that he was performing the “priest’s office.” This phrase brings us into the temple routine and signals that God’s revelation comes amid ordinary religious service. Being engaged in ministering before God highlights the sanctity of the setting and connects God’s word to the life of worship. Luke is showing that divine interruptions often come during faithful service, not merely in dramatic or public moments.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service beforeGod in the order of his course,

Context

This verse begins the narrative of the angelic visitation. After establishing the couple’s identity and condition, Luke now moves them into the temple setting where the revelation will occur. It connects their private sorrow to public worship and temple practice, preparing for the supernatural visitation.

v.7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

v.8This passage

v.9according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 1:5

    There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

  • 2 Chronicles 11:14

    For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office unto Jehovah;

  • Exodus 29:44

    And I will sanctify the tent of meeting, and the altar: Aaron also and his sons will I sanctify, to minister to me in the priest’s office.

  • Ezra 6:18

    And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

  • Exodus 29:9

    And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and bind head-tires on them: and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

  • Numbers 18:7

    And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and ye shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

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