God’s Word Translation
Luke 1:5
5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
Luke 1:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
- New International Version (NIV)In 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Context of Luke 1:5
3I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus. 4In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly. 7Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.
Read all of Luke 1Luke 1:5 word by word
Ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά, καὶ γυνὴ αὐτῷ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἀαρὼν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβετ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the daysὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- of HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
- the kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- of JudeaἸουδαίαIoudaia · JudeaG2449
- a certainτιςtis · oneG5100
- priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
- namedὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- ZachariasΖαχαρίαςZacharias · ZechariahG2197
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the courseἐφημερίαephēmeria · divisionG2183
- of AbiaἈβιάAbia · AbijahG7
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- the daughtersθυγάτηρthugatēr · daughterG2364
- of AaronἈαρώνAarōn · AaronG2
- ElisabethἘλισάβετElisabet · ElizabethG1665
Cross-references for Luke 1:5
Commentaries on Luke 1:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5In the days of Herod, the king - This was Herod, surnamed the Great, the son of Antipater, an Idumean by birth, who had professed himself a proselyte to the Jewish religion, but regarded no religion, farther than it promoted his secular interests and ambition. Thus, for the first time, the throne of Judah was filled by a person not of Jewish extraction, who had been forced upon the people by the Roman government. Hence it appears plain that the prophecy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5In the days of Herod - See the notes at Matthew 2:1. Of the course of Abia - When the priests became so numerous that they could not at once minister at the altar, David divided them into 24 classes or courses, each one of which officiated for a week, 1 Chronicles 24:10. Compare 2 Chronicles 8:14. The word “course” means the same as “class,” or order. The Greek-based word “Abia” is the same as the Hebrew-based word “Abijah.” His wife was of the daughters…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. 5The Gospel of Luke's first two chapters describe the birth of Jesus and introduce key themes that appear later in Luke and Acts. The announcements and birth stories of Jesus and John the Baptist appear together, emphasizing their roles in bringing God's salvation. At each point, Luke's Gospel shows Jesus to be greater. John is the forerunner announcing the coming of Jesus, while Jesus is the Savior.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-255. Herod--(See on Mt 2:1). course of Abia--or Abijah; the eighth of the twenty-four orders of courses into which David divided the priests (see 1Ch 24:1, 4, 10). Of these courses only four returned after the captivity (Ezr 2:34-39), which were again subdivided into twenty-four--retaining the ancient name and order of each. They took the whole temple service for a week each. his wife was of the daughters of Aaron--The priests might marry into any tribe…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 1:5
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries