Luke 1:76

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

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WEBBE

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

BSB

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

KJV

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

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

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;

Original Greek

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Καὶ Kai And G2532 σὺ su you yourself G4771 δέ de now G1161 παιδίον paidion child G3813 προφήτης prophētēs prophet G4396 ὑψίστου hupsistou of [the] Most High G5310 κληθήσῃ klēthēsē will be called G2564 προπορεύσῃ proporeusē you will go G4313 γὰρ gar for G1063 ἐνώπιον enōpion in front of G1799 προσώπου prosōpou [the] face of G4383 κυρίου kuriou [the] Lord G2962 ἑτοιμάσαι hetoimasai to prepare G2090 ὁδοὺς hodous ways G3598 αὐτοῦ autou of Him G846

The early church

The reason I suppose that Zacharias hastened to speak to his son, was because he knew that John was shortly about to be a sojourner in the wilderness, and that he himself should see him no more.

Origen of Alexandria · d. 253Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

In prophesying of the Lord he rightly addresses the prophet, showing that prophecy also is a gift of the Lord, in order that he might not, while enumerating public benefits, seem to be so ungrateful as to be silent of his own. Hence it is said, And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest. Now perhaps some may think it an absurd extravagance of the mind to address a child of eight days old. But if we keep our eyes fixed upon higher things, we surely can understand that the son might hear the voice of his father, who before he was born heard the salutation of Mary. The Prophet knew that there were certain organs of hearing in a Prophet which were unclosed by the Spirit of God, not by the growth of the body. He possessed the faculty of understanding who was moved by the feeling of exultation.

Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

But as kings have their companions in arms, who stand nearest to them, so John, who was the friend of the Bridegroom, went before Him nigh unto His coming. And this is what follows, For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. For some prophets have preached the mystery of Christ at a distance, but he preached it nearer the time, that he might both see Christ, and declare Him to others.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(xix. Mor. sup. Job 28:23.) But all they who by preaching cleanse the hearts of their hearers from the filth of their sins, prepare a way for the coming of wisdom into the heart.

Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Unless indeed Zacharias be supposed to have wished as soon as he was able to speak, to proclaim for their instruction who were present, the future gifts of his son, which he had long before learnt from the Angel. Let the Arians however hear that our Lord Christ, whom John went before prophesying of Him, Zacharias calls "the Most High," as it is said in the Psalms, A man was born in her, and the most highest has established her. (Ps. 87:5.)

Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 67–80

Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Ro 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 1 →

Cross-references

Topics

Wisdom John

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.