Berean Standard Bible
Luke 1:18
18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
Luke 1:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
- New International Version (NIV)Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
Context of Luke 1:18
16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back 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 fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” 19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Read all of Luke 1Luke 1:18 word by word
Καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον· κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης, καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.¶Read the interlinear
- Howκατάkata · according toG2596
- Howτίςtis · which?G5101
- can I be sure ofγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- ZechariahΖαχαρίαςZacharias · ZechariahG2197
- askedεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
- askedπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- ·γάρgar · forG1063
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- an old manπρεσβύτηςpresbutēs · old manG4246
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- is well alongπροβαίνωprobainō · to advanceG4260
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- ·αὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- yearsἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
Cross-references for Luke 1:18
- Luke 1:34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
- Genesis 15:8But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”
- Genesis 17:17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”
- Genesis 18:12So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
- Judges 6:36Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said,
- Isaiah 38:22And Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?”
- Luke 1:7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
- Numbers 11:21But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’
- 2 Kings 7:2But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”
- Romans 4:19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
Commentaries on Luke 1:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Whereby shall I know this? - All things are possible to God: no natural impediment can have any power when God has declared he will accomplish his purpose. He has a right to be believed on his own word alone; and it is impious, when we are convinced that it is his word, to demand a sign or pledge for its fulfillment.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Whereby shall I know this? - The thing was improbable, and he desired “evidence” that it would take place. The testimony of an “angel,” and in such a place, should have been proof enough; but people are slow to believe the testimony of heavenly messengers. As a consequence of not believing, he was struck mute.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-25Verses 5-25 The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Whereby, &c.--Mary believed what was far harder without a sign. Abraham, though older, and doubtless Sarah, too, when the same promise was made to him, "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." This was that in which Zacharias failed.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 1:18
In the dictionaries
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
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