Luke 1:15, Luke 1:17 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:15

Great in the sight of the Lord . To the pious old Jewish priest the strange visitant's words would bear a deep signification. Zacharias would quickly catch the angel's thoughts. His son was not to be the Messiah of the people's hope, but was to be like one of those great ones loved of God, of whom the women of Israel sang on their solemn feast-days—one like Samson, only purer, or Samuel, or the yet greater Elijah. Could all this deep joy be true? Shall drink neither wine . The old curse... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:15

Shall be great - Shall be eminent, or distinguished as a preacher.In the sight of the Lord - Greek, “before the Lord.” That is, shall be “really” or “truly” great. God shall regard him as such.Shall drink neither wine - The kind of wine commonly used in Judea was a light wine, often not stronger than cider in this country. It was the common drink of all classes of the people. See the notes at John 2:11. The use of wine was forbidden only to the Nazarite, Numbers 6:3. It was because John... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 1:14-16

Luke 1:14-16. Thou shalt have joy and gladness He shall be such a son as thou shalt have reason to rejoice in. As if he had said, Many parents, if they could foresee what their children will prove, instead of rejoicing at their birth, would wish they had never been. But I will tell thee what thy son will be; and then thou wilt not need to rejoice with trembling, as the best must do at the birth of their children, but thou mayest rejoice with triumph. And many shall rejoice with thee All... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 1:5-25

2. Birth of John the Baptist foretold (Luke 1:5-25)Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was a priest. Because all male descendants of Aaron were priests, there were, even in Old Testament times, too many priests for the amount of work to be done. David therefore divided them into twenty-four divisions, and each division served for two weeks each year. Zechariah belonged to the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5; cf. 1 Chronicles 24:1-19). (All priests would be required for duty during the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 1:15

in the sight of = before. See note on "before", Luke 1:6 . shall drink neither = shallin no wise (Greek. ou me. App-105 .) drink, strong drink . Greek. sikera, any intoxicating drink not from grapes. shall be filled. Verbs of filling take the Genitive of what the person or vessel is filled with. See App-101 . note. Here pneuma hagion is in the Genitive case. the Holy Ghost = holy spirit. Greek pneuma hagion, or "power from on high". See App-101 . from. Greek ek. App-104 . i.e.... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 1:15

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.Great in the sight of the Lord ... is a far different thing from being great in the sight of men, the vicious and unprincipled Herod the Great, just mentioned, being a classical example of the latter type of "greatness."No wine nor strong drink ... This prohibited, not merely wine, but all intoxicants, and supports the view that... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:15

Luke 1:15. He shall be great, &c.— By this some understand that true greatness, whereof God is the sovereign judge, in opposition to that greatness which men acknowledge, who very often err in their opinion of things. "He shall be great in the sight of God, not of man." But great in the sight of God seems to be a Hebrew expression of the same form with αστειος τω Θεω, Act 7:20 fair to God, or exceeding fair, and signifies, he shall be exceeding great; namely, in respect of his character,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:15

15. great in the sight of the Lord—nearer to Him in official standing than all the prophets. (See Matthew 11:10; Matthew 11:11.) drink neither wine nor strong drink—that is, shall be a Nazarite, or "a separated one" (Numbers 6:2, c.). As the leper was the living symbol of sin, so was the Nazarite of holiness nothing inflaming was to cross his lips; no razor to come on his head; no ceremonial defilement to be contracted. Thus was he to be "holy to the Lord [ceremonially] all the days of his... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-25

A. The announcement of John the Baptist’s birth 1:5-25There are striking parallels to this account in the Old Testament. Zechariah and Elizabeth were similar to Abraham and Sarah, to Jacob and Rachel, to Elkanah and Hannah, and to Samson’s parents. In each case there was a divine announcement of the birth of an unusual child. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-52

II. THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS 1:5-2:52This section contains material unique in Luke. The only repeated statement occurs in Luke 2:39 and Matthew 2:23. Other unique features are the way Luke alternated the reader’s attention between John and Jesus, and the joy that several individuals expressed (Luke 1:46-55; Luke 1:68-79; Luke 2:14; Luke 2:29-32). [Note: For studies of the structure of this passage, see Robert C. Tannehill, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts , 1:15-20; R. E. Brown, The... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 1:14-16

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 1:5-25

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 1:15

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 1:15

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:15

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 1:15

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-25

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-52

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