Luke 1:7

Luke 1:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
• New International Version (NIV)But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

Context of Luke 1:7

5When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. 8One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke 1:7 word by word

καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον, καθότι ἦν ἡ Ἐλισάβετ στεῖρα καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• hadεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noοὐou · noG3756
• childτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• because thatκαθότιkathoti · as/just asG2530
• ElisabethἘλισάβετElisabet · ElizabethG1665
• barrenστεῖραsteiros · barrenG4723
• bothἀμφότεροςamphoteros · bothG297
• well strickenπροβαίνωprobainō · to advanceG4260
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yearsἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250

Cross-references for Luke 1:7

• Genesis 15:2But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
• Genesis 16:1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
• Genesis 25:21Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.
• Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
• Judges 13:2In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children.
• 1 Samuel 1:2Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.
• Genesis 17:17Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
• Genesis 18:11Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.
• 1 Kings 1:1King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.
• 2 Kings 4:14Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”
• Romans 4:19And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
• Hebrews 11:11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Commentaries on Luke 1:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Both were now well stricken in years - By the order of God, sterility and old age both met in the person of Elisabeth, to render the birth of a son (humanly speaking) impossible. This was an exact parallel to the case of Sarah and Abraham, Genesis 11:30; Genesis 17:17. Christ must (by the miraculous power of God) be born of a virgin: whatever was connected with, or referred to, his incarnation must be miraculous and impressive. Isaac was his grand type…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Well stricken in years - Old or advanced in life, so as to render the prospect of having children hopeless.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. 7Elizabeth was barren: Giving birth to children was a woman's greatest role in this culture. Being unable to have children made women feel ashamed. God miraculously intervened in the lives of various Old Testament women so they could have children (Genesis 18:10–12; 25:21; 30:22–23; Judges 13; 1 Samuel 1:1–28).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. So with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Elkanah and Hannah, Manoah and his wife.Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 1:7

• Barrenness
• Elisabeth (Elizabeth)
• Joy
• Temple
• Zacharias (Zechariah)

In the dictionaries

• Barren
• 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