Luke 1:9

Luke 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
• English Standard Version (ESV)according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
• New King James Version (NKJV)according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

Context of Luke 1:9

7But they had no children. Elizabeth could not give birth and they were both getting old. 8One day, Zechariah's group of priests was working at the temple. He had a special job to do there. The priests chose one of their group to go into the holy place in the temple. This time they chose Zechariah. His job was to burn incense there. 10While Zechariah was burning incense in the special room, many men were outside in the yard. They were praying to God. 11The incense was burning on a special altar, when one of God's angels appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right hand side of the altar.

Luke 1:9 word by word

κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας ἔλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• According toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the customἔθοςethos · customG1485
• of the priest’s officeἱερατείαhierateia · priesthoodG2405
• his lot wasλαγχάνωlagchanō · to choose by lotG2975
• to burn incenseθυμιάωthumiaō · to burn incenseG2370
• when he wentεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the templeναόςnaos · templeG3485
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Luke 1:9

• Exodus 30:7Every morning, Aaron must burn sweet incense on this altar. He must do this when he goes in to take care of the lamps.
• Exodus 37:25Bezalel used acacia wood to make the altar for incense. It was square, 45 centimetres long, 45 centimetres wide and 90 centimetres high. The altar's horns were part of it, made from one piece of wood.
• Numbers 16:40Then the Israelites would remember not to do what Korah and his group did. Only people from the family of Aaron could burn incense on the Lord's altar. God would punish anyone else, like he punished Korah and his men. The Lord had given this command through Moses.
• 1 Samuel 2:28I chose your ancestor, Aaron, out of all the tribes of Israel. I chose him and his descendants to be my priests. I chose them to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense and to wear the special ephod. I also gave them authority to eat part of the sacrifices and burnt offerings that the Israelites offered to me.
• 1 Chronicles 6:49Only Aaron and his descendants served God as priests. They offered sacrifices to God on the altar for burnt offerings. They also burned sweet oils on the altar for incense. That was their work in the Most Holy Place. They made sacrifices so that God would forgive the sins of the Israelites. They did all this in the way that God's servant Moses had commanded.
• 1 Chronicles 23:13Amram's sons were Aaron and Moses. The Lord chose Aaron and his descendants for special work for all time. Their work was to offer special holy things to the Lord. They would offer sacrifices to the Lord. They would serve him in the temple. And they would use his name to bless the people.
• 2 Chronicles 26:16Uzziah was so powerful that he became proud. That caused him to lose his power. He began to turn away from the Lord his God. He went into the Lord's temple to burn incense on the special altar there.
• 2 Chronicles 29:11My sons, the Lord has chosen you to serve him in his temple and to offer sacrifices. So do your work well.’
• Hebrews 9:6So that was how they prepared the special tent. Then the priests would go into the first room of the tent every day. They went in there to serve God, as his rules taught.

Commentaries on Luke 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9His lot was, etc. - We are informed in the Talmud, that it was the custom of the priests to divide the different functions of the sacerdotal office among themselves by lot: and, in this case, the decision of the lot was, that Zacharias should at that time burn the incense before the Lord, in the holy place.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9According to the custom of the priest‘s office, his lot was. - The Jewish writers inform us that it was customary for the priests to divide their daily task by “lot.” To burn incense - Incense is an aromatic or white rosin procured from trees, chiefly in Arabia. It is obtained by making incisions in the tree, and the gum flows out. It is distinguished for an especially pleasant “smell” when burned, and was therefore used in ancient worship. It was burned…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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9Zechariah's division was on duty … he was chosen by lot: It was common in Old Testament times to cast lots (similar to throwing dice) to determine God’s will (1 Chronicles 26:13–16; Nehemiah 11:1; Proverbs 16:33; Jonah 1:7). There were 24 orders of priests that took turns serving in the temple (1 Chronicles 24:1–19). They cast lots to choose which priest would serve in the sanctuary of the temple. There were many priests, so this honor might come only…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. his lot was to burn incense--The part assigned to each priest in his week of service was decided by lot. Three were employed at the offering of incense--to remove the ashes of the former service; to bring in and place on the golden altar the pan filled with hot burning coals taken from the altar of burnt offering; and to sprinkle the incense on the hot coals; and, while the smoke of it ascended, to make intercession for the people. This was the most…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 1:9

• Barrenness
• Elisabeth (Elizabeth)
• Joy
• Lot, the
• Priest
• Temple
• Zacharias (Zechariah)

In the dictionaries

• Lot
• 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