Luke 1
1
Introduction
1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled#1:1 Or been surely believed among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The birth of John the Baptist foretold
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’
18Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.’
19The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realised he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.’
The birth of Jesus foretold
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’
34‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
35The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called#1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.’
38‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’
Mary’s song
46And Mary said:
‘My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants for ever,
just as he promised our ancestors.’
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The birth of John the Baptist
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’
61They said to her, ‘There is no-one among your relatives who has that name.’
62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s song
67His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69He has raised up a horn#1:69 Horn here symbolises a strong king. of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
70(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us –
72to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.’
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit#1:80 Or in the Spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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Luke 1: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Lukas 1
1
1Vibahlt (since) many Messianic Sofrim have attempted to compile a sefer, a historical narrative, about the momentous events that have been fulfilled among us,
2Just as these#1:2 massoret haShluchim have been handed down to us by those who from HaReshit#1:2 of the Besuras HaGeulah were edei reiyah (eyewitnesses) and mesharetim (ministers) of the Dvar Hashem,
3I thought it expedient also, having done an iyun (investigative research), accurately and carefully being meayen (engaged in research) in every source and making a medakdeke (pain-stakingly thorough) investigation of every aspect from HaReshit (the Beginning), to write for you and to mesader (arrange, place in succession) an orderly account, most noble Theophilus,
4That you may have daas of HaEmes regarding the Divrei Moshiach about which you took shiurim (lessons).
5At the time of Herod king of Yehudah, there was a certain kohen by the name Zecharyah, who belonged to the Aviyah division. His isha was of the banot Aharon, name of Elisheva.#1:5 1Chr 24:10
6And they were both tzaddikim before Hashem, walking a derech tamim in all the mitzvos and chukkim of the Torah of Adoneinu.#1:6 Gn 6:9; Dt 5:33; 1Kgs 9:4
7But they had no ben, because Elisheva was barren, and they were both advanced in their yamim.
8And it came to pass in the performance of his avodas kodesh sherut as a kohen before Hashem in the appointed order of his division,#1:8 1Chr 24:19; 2Chr 8:14
9According to the minhag (custom) of the kehunah, Zecharyah was chosen by lot to enter the Beis Hamikdash and to offer ketoret (incense).#1:9 Ex 30:7,8; 1Chr 23:13; 2Chr 29:11; Ps 141:2
10And when the hour of the offering of the ketoret came, all the multitude were davening outside.#1:10 Lv 16:17
11And there appeared to Zecharyah a malach Hashem, standing on the right side of the Mizbeach of ketoret.#1:11 Ex 30:1-10
12And, seeing the malach, Zecharyah was terrified, and pachad (fear) fell on him.#1:12 Judg 6:22,23; 13:22
13But the malach said to him, Do not have pachad (fear), Zecharyah. Your tefillah (prayer) was heard and your isha, Elisheva, will bear a ben to you and you will call his shem Yochanan.
14And he will be a simcha to you and sasson (joy), and there will be sasson rav (great joy) at his huledet (birth).
15And he will be gadol before Hashem, and he will not drink yayin or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Ruach Hakodesh from the womb of his Em (mother),#1:15 Num 6:3; Lv 10:9; Judg 13:4; Jer 1:5
16And many of the Bnei Yisroel he will turn back in teshuva to Hashem Eloheihem.
17And he will go forth before Adonoi in the ruach (spirit) and koach (power) of Eliyahu HaNavi, VEHESHIV LEV AVOT AL BANIM (And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children)#1:17 Mal 4:6 [Mal 3:24] and those without mishmaat (obedience) he will turn to the chochmah of the tzaddikim to prepare for Adonoi an Am (People) having been made ready.#1:17 Mal 4:5,6
18And Zecharyah said to the malach, Just how will I have daas that this is so? For I am old and my isha is advanced in her yamim (days).#1:18 Gn 15:8; 17:17
19And in reply, the malach said to Zecharyah, I am Gavriel, I stand before Hashem. And I was sent to speak to you and to announce these things to you.#1:19 Dan 8:16; 9:21
20And hinei! You will be illem (mute) and not be able to speak, until the yom (day) when these things come to pass, because you did not have emunah in my devarim (words), which will be fulfilled in their time.#1:20 Ex 4:11; Ezek 3:26
21And the people were expecting Zecharyah and they were bewildered at his delay in the Beis HaMikdash.
22And when he came out, he was illem (mute) and not able to speak to them, and they had daas that he had seen a chazon in the Heikhal. He kept motioning to them and he remained illem.
23And it came about as the yamim of his sherut (service in the Beis HaMikdash) as a kohen were fulfilled, he went to his bais (house).
24And after these yamim, Elisheva, his isha, became with child, and she kept herself in hitbodedut for chamesh chodashim, saying,
25 Hashem has done this for me. In these yamim he looked with Chen vChesed (favor and mercy, loving kindness) on me to take away my reproach among Bnei Adam.#1:25 Gn 30:23; Isa 4:1
26Now in the chodesh shishi the malach Gavriel was sent from Hashem to a shtetl in the Galil called Natzeret,
27To a betulah (virgin) given in erusin (betrothal, engagement) to an ish from the Beis Dovid named Yosef,#1:27 ben Dovid and the shem of the almah was Miryam.
28And when the malach approached her, he said, Shalom, favored one! Hashem is with you!
29But she was greatly perplexed at the message, and kept pondering what sort of Shalom greeting this might be.
30And the malach said to her, Do not have pachad (fear), Miryam, for you have found chen before Hashem.
31And in your womb you will conceive and bear BEN#1:31 Isa 7:14 and you will call SHMO YEHOSHUA.#1:31 Zech 6:11-12
32He will be gadol (great) and will be called Ben HaElyon (Son of the Most High). Adonoi Elohim will give him the kisse Dovid Aviv,
33And he will rule over the Beis Ya'akov Olam vaed, and his Malchut will never come to an end.#1:33 2Sm 7:16; Ps 89:3,4; Isa 9:7; Jer 33:17; Dan 2:44; 7:14,27; Mic 4:7
34But Miryam said to the malach, How will this be, vi-bahlt (since) I do not have daas of an ish?
35And in reply, the malach said to her, The Ruach Hakodesh will come upon you and the gevurah of HaElyon will overshadow you. Therefore, also, the one being born will be called HaKadosh (The Holy One), Ben HaElohim.
36And Elisheva your krovah also has conceived a ben in her old age, and this chodesh is hashishi (the sixth) for her who is called barren.
37For nothing will be impossible with Hashem.
38And Miryam said, Hinei! I am the shifcha of Hashem. May it be done to me according to your dvar. And the malach departed from her.
39And in those yamim, Miryam got up and traveled into the hill country with haste to a shtetl of Yehudah.
40And she entered into the bais of Zecharyah and gave Birkat Shalom greetings to Elisheva.
41And it came about, when Elisheva heard the Birkat Shalom of Miryam, the yeled leaped in Elishevaʼs womb, and she was filled with the Ruach Hakodesh.
42And Elisheva cried out with a kol gadol (loud voice) and said, Brucha at miNashim (Blessed art thou among women), and baruch (blessed is) the pri (fruit) of your womb!#1:42 Judg 5:24
43And why has this happened to me that the Em Adoni should come to me?
44For hinei! When the sound of your Birkat Shalom came into my ears, the yeled leaped with simcha in my womb.
45And ashrey is the one having had emunah that there will be a fulfillment to the things having been spoken to Miryam by Hashem.
46And Miryam said, My soul doth magnify Hashem.#1:46 Ps 34:2,3
47ALATZ LIBI BA'HASHEM#1:47 1Sm 2:1 (My heart rejoices in Hashem) and my neshamah exalts in Hashem Yishi#1:47 Hab 3:18 (G-d my Savior, Moshi'a),#1:47 Ps 18:46; Isa 17:10; 61:10
48For HASHEM VISHAFAL YIREH#1:48 Ps 138:6 looked upon the humble state of His shifcha (bond maid), for from now on kol hadorot ishruni#1:48 Gn 30:13 (all generations will call me happy),
49For Shaddai (the Almighty) did gedolot for me and Kadosh is Shmo,#1:49 Ps 111:9
50And the chesed of Hashem is DOR VDOR#1:50 Ps 100:5 to those with yirat Shomayim.#1:50 Ex 20:6; Ps 103:17
51 Hashem has done niflaot (wonders) with his zeroa (arm).#1:51 Isa 53:1 He scattered those who in the machshavot (thoughts) of their levavot are the Gaayonim (the Haughty ones).
52He brought down shalitim (rulers) from their kisot (thrones) and lifted up the Anavim (Humble),
53The ones hungering, Hashem made full of tov, and the ashirim he sent away empty.#1:53 Ps 107:9
54 Hashem helped his servant Yisroel, in remembrance of his rachamim (mercy),
55Just as Hashem spoke to Avoteinu, to Avraham Avinu and his Zera ad Olam.
56And Miryam remained with Elisheva about shlosha chodashim, and then Miryam returned to her bais.
57Now when the time of Elisheva to give birth was fulfilled, she bore a ben.
58And Elishevaʼs shchenim (neighbors) and krovim (relatives) heard that Adoneinu greatly demonstrated his rachamim to her, and they had much simcha with her.
59And it came about on the yom hashemini (the eighth day) they came for the bris milah of the yeled, and they were calling him by the name of his abba, Zecharyah.
60And in reply, his Em said: Lo, but he will be called Yochanan.
61And they said to her, There is no one from your krovim who is called by this shem.
62And they began motioning to the yeledʼs abba to find out what shem he wanted to give him.
63And having asked for a luach (tablet), Zecharyah wrote, saying, Yochanan shmo. And everyone was amazed.
64And Zecharyahʼs mouth was loosed at once and the lashon of him, and he began speaking, saying Baruch Hashem!
65And upon all their shchenim (neighbors) came much yirat Shomayim, and in the entire hill country of Yehudah everyone was shmoozing about these matters.
66All who heard these things pondered them in their levavot, saying, What then will this yeled become? For, indeed, the yad Hashem was on him.#1:66 Gn 39:2
67And Zecharyah, his abba, was filled with the Ruach Hakodesh and brought forth a dvar nevuah, saying,
68BARUCH HASHEM ELOHEI YISROEL, for Adonoi has visited his Am Berit and accomplished a pedut kofer ransom for the Geulah of his people.
69And Hashem raised up a Keren Yeshu'ah (Horn of Salvation), a mighty Moshia, for us in the Beis Dovid, His eved,
70Just as Hashem spoke through the mouth of His neviim hakedoshim meOlam (holy prophets from long ago),#1:70 Jer 23:5
71That we should have Yeshu'at Eloheinu from our oyvim (enemies) and from the hand of all the ones who regard us with sinas chinom (baseless hatred).
72Thus Hashem has demonstrated his rachamim (mercy) to Avoteinu (our Fathers) and has remembered his Brit HaKodesh (Holy Covenant),#1:72 Mic 7:20; Ps 105:8,9; 106:45; Ezek 16:60
73The Brit HaShevu'ah (the Covenant of the oath) which He swore to Avraham Avinu to grant us,#1:73 Gn 22:16-18
74Having been delivered from the yad haoyvim (hand of enemies) of us to serve Hashem fearlessly,
75In kedushah (holiness) and tzedek (righteousness) before Him all our yamim (days).
76And you also, yeled (child), will be called Navi HaElyon (Prophet of the Most High); for you will go LIFNEI HAADON (before the L-rd) to prepare the DERECH HASHEM (The Way of the L-rd),#1:76 Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3
77To give daas (knowledge) of Yeshu'at Eloheinu (the Salvation of our G-d) to Hashemʼs Am Berit (People of the Covenant) by the selichat (forgiveness) of their avon (sin),#1:77 Jer 31:34
78Through the rav rachamim of Eloheinu (through the great mercy of our G-d), by which has visited us the rising SHEMESH (Sun)#1:78 Moshiach from Shomayim,#1:78 Mal 4:2 [ 3:20]
79To appear to the ones in CHOSHECH (darkness) and YOSHVEI BERETZ TZALMAVET (sitting in the land of the shadow of death), to direct our feet into the Derech Shalom.#1:79 Ps 107:14; Isa 9:1-2; 59:9
80And the yeled was growing and was being given chizzuk (strengthening) in the Ruach Hakodesh, and Yochanan was in the desolate places until the day of his hisgalus (revelation, manifestation) to Yisroel.
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THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021.