Luke 1:18

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

16And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years.” 19The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Luke 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

• ZechariahΖαχαρίαςZacharias · ZechariahG2197
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• Howκατάkata · according toG2596
• Howτίςtis · which?G5101
• will I knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• an oldπρεσβύτηςpresbutēs · old manG4246
• and my wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• is advancedπροβαίνωprobainō · to advanceG4260
• yearsἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250

Cross-references for Luke 1:18

• Luke 1:34But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
• Genesis 15:8But he said, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”
• Genesis 17:17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man a hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth to a child?”
• Genesis 18:12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, am I to have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
• Judges 6:36Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel through me, as You have spoken,
• Isaiah 38:22Then Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of the Lord?”
• Luke 1:7And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years.
• Numbers 11:21But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am included, are six hundred thousand on foot! Yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.’
• 2 Kings 7:2The royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning responded to the man of God and said, “Even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this thing happen?” Then he said, “Behold, you are going to see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it.”
• Romans 4:19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness 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

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Barrenness
• Elisabeth (Elizabeth)
• Gabriel
• John
• Joy
• Miracles
• Sign
• Temple
• Vision
• Zacharias (Zechariah)

In the dictionaries

• Old Man
• 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