Luke 1:79

Luke 1:79 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
• New International Version (NIV)to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
• New King James Version (NKJV)To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Context of Luke 1:79

77To give His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.” 80The child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].

Luke 1:79 word by word

ἐπιφᾶναι τοῖς ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου καθημένοις, τοῦ κατευθῦναι τοὺς πόδας ἡμῶν εἰς ὁδὸν εἰρήνης.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• To give lightἐπιφαίνωepiphainō · to appearG2014
• that sitκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the shadowσκιάskia · shadowG4639
• of deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• to guideκατευθύνωkateuthunō · to guideG2720
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• feetπούςpous · footG4228
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• of peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515

Cross-references for Luke 1:79

• Luke 2:32A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”
• Isaiah 9:2The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.
• Isaiah 42:7To open the eyes of the blind, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who sit in darkness from the prison.
• Isaiah 49:6He says, “It is too trivial a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations That My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
• Isaiah 60:1“Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.
• Matthew 4:16The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.”
• John 1:9There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.
• John 8:12Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
• John 9:5As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].”
• John 12:46I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.
• Acts 26:18to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’
• Ephesians 5:8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light]
• 1 Thessalonians 5:4But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;
• 1 John 1:5This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].
• Job 3:5Let darkness and gloom claim it for their own; Let a cloud settle upon it; Let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born).
• Job 10:22The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself, [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”

Commentaries on Luke 1:79

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 79To give light … - See the notes at Matthew 4:16. To guide our feet … - The figure in these verses is taken from travelers, who, being overtaken by night, know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the morning light, that they may know which way to go. So man wandered. So he became benighted. So he sat in the shadow of death. So he knew not which way to go until the Sun of righteousness arose, and then the light shone brightly on his way, and the road…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 67-80Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 67-79This second song of praise in the birth story of Jesus is called the Benedictus (Latin for “Blessed” or “Praise”). The song expects that God’s Messiah (his chosen leader) will save the Israelites from their enemies. Salvation includes physical rescue and forgiveness of sins (1:77).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 68-7968-79. There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own child; like Elisabeth losing sight entirely of self, in the glory of a Greater than both. Lord God of Israel--the ancient covenant God of the peculiar people. visited and redeemed--that is, in order to redeem: returned after long absence, and broken His long silence (see Mt 15:31). In the Old Testament, God is said to "visit" chiefly for judgment, in the New Testament for mercy…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 1:79

• Darkness
• Death
• Depravity of Man
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Joy
• Miracles
• Peace
• Poetry
• Psalms
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Wicked (People)
• Wisdom
• Zacharias (Zechariah)

In the dictionaries

• Shadow of Death
• Begin
• Certainty
• Conceive
• Estate
• Ministration
• Noise
• Righteousness
• Salutation
• Sign

Commentaries on Luke 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings