to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
Parallel Translations
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to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
-
To fulfill the mercy promised to oure fathers and to remember his holy covenaunt.
And to performe the oothe which he sware to oure father Abraham, for to geve vs.
That we delyvered oute of the hondes of oure enemyes myght serve him with oute feare
Show all 3 translations
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That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,
And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.
Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,
Cross-references (42)
- Zephaniah 3:15-17 (v74) Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of…
- 2 Timothy 1:7 (v74) For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Isaiah 54:13-14 (v74) All your children will be taught by Yahweh; and your children’s peace will be great. You will be established in righteousness. You will be…
- Genesis 22:16-18 (v73) and said, “ ‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that I…
- Leviticus 26:42 (v72) then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land.
Show all 42 cross-references
- Romans 8:15 (v74) For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Hebrews 6:13-18 (v72) For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless…
- Hebrews 9:14 (v74) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from…
- Psalms 106:45 (v72) He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
- Micah 7:20 (v72) You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
- Hebrews 2:15 (v74) and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- Revelation 2:10 (v74) Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be…
- Zechariah 9:8-10 (v74) I will encamp around my house against the army, that no one pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for…
- Genesis 26:4 (v72) I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and will give all these lands to your offspring. In your offspring all the nations…
- Genesis 28:14 (v72) Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the…
- Deuteronomy 7:8 (v73) but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a…
- Psalms 105:9 (v73) the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac,
- Ezekiel 16:60 (v72) Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish to you an everlasting covenant.
- Ezekiel 34:25-28 (v74) “ ‘I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil animals to cease out of the land. They will dwell securely in the…
- Luke 1:54-55 (v72) He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
- Luke 1:71 (v74) salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
- Romans 11:28 (v72) Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
- Genesis 22:18 (v72) All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’ ”
- Deuteronomy 7:12 (v73) It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the…
- Psalms 105:8-10 (v72) He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his…
- Isaiah 35:9-10 (v74) No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. Then…
- Isaiah 65:21-25 (v74) They will build houses and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and another inhabit. They will…
- Jeremiah 11:5 (v73) that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I…
- Ezekiel 39:28-29 (v74) They will know that I am Yahweh their God, in that I caused them to go into captivity among the nations, and have gathered them to their…
- Acts 3:25-26 (v72) You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the…
- Genesis 12:3 (v72) I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through…
- Genesis 17:4-9 (v72) “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name will no more be called Abram, but…
- Genesis 26:3 (v73) Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will…
- Psalms 98:3 (v72) He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of…
- Psalms 111:5 (v72) He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant.
- Isaiah 45:17 (v74) Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation. You will not be disappointed nor confounded to ages everlasting.
- Ezekiel 16:8 (v72) “ ‘ “Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your…
- Galatians 3:15-17 (v72) Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.…
- Hebrews 6:13 (v73) For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
- Hebrews 6:16-17 (v73) For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. In this way God, being determined…
- Genesis 24:7 (v73) Yahweh, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying,…
- Romans 6:22 (v74) But now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v72 Declared indeed that he was mindful.
Declared indeed that he was mindful.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv72–74 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,…
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Ver. 72. To perform the mercy] God’s love moves him to promise, his truth binds him to perform. See both these, 2Sa 7:18; 2Sa 7:21 "For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart (that is, ex mero motu), hast thou done all these things."
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv73–74 God first gave Abraham his word, Gen 18:10, then…
God first gave Abraham his word, Gen 18:10, then he confirmed it by his oath, Gen 22:16. The apostle, to the Hebrews, saith, Heb 6:13, When God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv72–73 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,.... By…
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,.... By "mercy" is meant salvation by Christ, which springs from the mercy of God; the promise of which was an instance of mercy to the Jewish fathers under the Old Testament, and also the performance of it; for they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus, even as we: his blood was shed for the remission of sins that were past, and for the redemption of transgressions under the first Testament:
and to remember his holy covenant; which was made between him, and his Son from all eternity; and was, at various times, dispensed and manifested to the patriarchs, and eminent saints, as Adam, Noah, Abraham, &c. This is called an "holy" one; not only because it was made by, and between holy persons, and provided for the holiness of the people of God, both here, and hereafter; but because in the article of redemption and salvation by Christ, which is here more particularly regarded, care was taken to secure the glory of God's holiness and justice, as well as to display his grace and mercy. Now raising up, and sending Jesus a Saviour, showed, that God was mindful of this covenant, and therefore sent redemption to his people.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v74 To serve him without fear - Without any slavish…
To serve him without fear - Without any slavish fear. Here is the substance of the great promise. That we shall be always holy, always happy: that being delivered from Satan and sin, from every uneasy and unholy temper, we shall joyfully love and serve God, in every thought, word, and work.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv72, 74 Verse 72. His holy covenant] See Clarke on Lu…
Verse 72. His holy covenant] See Clarke on Lu 1:54.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv72–74 To perform the mercy - To show the mercy…
To perform the mercy - To show the mercy promised. The expression in the “original” is, “To make mercy with our fathers” - that is, to show kindness to our fathers; and the propriety of it is founded on the fact that mercy to “children” is regarded as kindness to the “parent.” Blessing the “children” was blessing the “nation;” was fulfilling the promises made to the fathers, and “showing” that he regarded them in mercy.
His holy covenant - The word “covenant” means compact or agreement. This is in use among people. It implies equality in the parties; freedom from constraint; freedom from previous obligation to do the thing now covenanted; and freedom from obligation to enter into a compact, unless a man chooses so to do. Such a transaction evidently can never take place between man and God, for they are not equal. Man is not at liberty to “decline” what God proposes, and he is under obligation to do “all” that God commands. When the word “covenant,” therefore, is used in the Bible, it means sometimes a “command;” Sometimes a “promise;” sometimes a “regular law” - as “the covenant of the day and night;” and sometimes the way in which God dispenses mercy - that is, by the old and new covenants. In the place before us it means “the promise” made to Abraham, as the following verses clearly show.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv72–73 To remember his holy covenant, i.e. of his promise,…
To remember his holy covenant, i.e. of his promise, or of the covenant made with Abraham, that he would bless all nations in his seed. (Witham) --- At the coming of Christ, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were made partakers of his mercy. For, we cannot suppose that they who saw his day, and were glad, should not participate in the fruit of his coming; since St. Paul says: he maketh peace through the blood of the cross, both to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven. (Colossians i. 20.) (Origen, hom. x.)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv72–74 the mercy promised . . . his holy covenant…
the mercy promised . . . his holy covenant . . .
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v72 72. To perform the mercy—This phrase depends upon hath…
72. To perform the mercy—This phrase depends upon hath raised up a horn, Luk_1:69. God hath raised up a Messiah in order to bring about these results. The oath is in apposition with covenant, and is the object of remember.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv72–73 72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers]…
72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers] It is simply to do mercy towards our fathers. The “promised” is a needless addition of the E.V.
72, 73. mercy … remember … oath] These three words have been thought by some to be an allusion to the three names John (‘Jehovah’s mercy’); Zacharias (‘remembered by Jehovah’), and Elizabeth (see p. 45). Such paronomasiae, or plays on words, are exceedingly common in the Bible. For similar possible instances of latent paronomasiae see the author’s Life of Christ, i. 65; ii. 200, 240.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv72–74 (72) To perform the mercy.—The verse has been thought,…
(72) To perform the mercy.—The verse has been thought, and with apparent reason, to contain a reference, after the manner of the ancient prophets (comp. Isa_8:3; Mic_1:10-15), to the name of the speaker, of his wife, and of his child. In “performing mercy,” we find an allusion to John or Jochanan (= “The Lord be merciful”); in “remembering His holy covenant,” to the name Zacharias (= “Whom Jehovah remembers”); in the “oath” of Luk_1:73, to that of Elizabeth or Elisheba (= “The oath of my God”). The play upon the words would, of course, be obvious in the original Hebrew (i.e., Aramaic) of the hymn, which we have only in its Greek version.
His holy covenant.—The covenant is clearly that made with Abraham in Gen_15:18. In thus going back to that as the starting-point of the New Covenant which was to be made in Christ, Zacharias anticipates the teaching of St. Paul in Gal_3:15-19.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v74 Vers. 74, 75. Might serve him without fear, in…
Vers. 74, 75. Might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. What Zacharias looked on to was a glorious theocracy based upon national holiness. Israel, freed from foreign oppression and internal dissensions, would serve God with a worship at once uninterrupted and undefiled.
Vers. 74, 75. The course of the Christian life.
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These words of Zacharias will very well indicate the course through which a Christian life passes from its commencement to its close.
I IT BEGINS IN SPIRITUAL EMANCIPATION. "We being delivered out of the hand of our enemies." In order to "walk in newness of life," we must be rescued from the thraldom of sin. And there is a twofold deliverance that we need. One is from the condemnation of our guilt; for we cannot rest and rejoice in the love of God while we are under a troubled sense of the Divine displeasure, while we feel and know that our "sin has separated between" ourselves and our heavenly Father. The other is from the bondage of evil. So long as we are "held in the cords of our sins," we are helplessly disobedient; it is only when we have learnt to hate sin, and, loathing it, to leave it behind us, that we are free to walk in the path of righteousness. This double emancipation is wrought for us by the Lord whose way the son of Zacharias was to prepare. By faith in him, the great Propitiation for our sins, (1Jn_2:2) we have full and free forgiveness, so that all the guilty past may be removed from our sight; and in the presence of a crucified Redeemer "the flesh and its affections are crucified," we die to our old self and our old iniquities, the tolerance of sin is slain, we hate that which we loved and embraced before, we are "delivered out of the hand of our enemies.
II IT PROCEEDS ALONG THE PATH OF FILIAL SERVICE. We "serve him without fear." Here are two elements obedience and happiness. As soon as we unite ourselves to our Lord and Savior, we live to serve. "None of us liveth to himself;" "We thus judge,... that we who live should not live unto ourselves, but unto him who died for us". (2Co_5:14, 2Co_5:15) And this is the only true life of man. The animal may live for itself, though even the higher animals live rather for others than for themselves. But all whom we should care to emulate live to serve. It is not the sentence passed, it is the heritage conferred upon us, that in Christ Jesus we live to serve God to serve him by direct worship and obedience, and also, indirectly, by serving the children of his love and the creatures of his care. And we serve in love; and therefore without fear without that fear which means bondage; for "perfect love casteth out fear." It is with no hesitating and reluctant step that we walk in the ways of God; it is our joy to do his bidding; we "delight to do his will: yea, his Law is within our heart". (Psa_40:8) "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;" our spirit is the spirit of happy childhood, which runs to fulfill its Father"s word.
III IT MOVES TOWARDS PERFECT EXCELLENCE OF CHARACTER. "In holiness and righteousness before him." Here are three elements of the Christian life.
1. A holy hatred of evil; leading us to condemn it in ourselves and in others, and prompting us to expel and extirpate it to the utmost of our power.
2. The pursuit and practice of all that is equitable; endeavoring to do and to promote that which is just in all the relations in which we stand to others, or they to one another.
3. Piety; doing every right thing as unto Christ our Lord; living consciously "before him;" so that all our rectitude of heart and excellency of behavior is something more than a habit of life; it is a sacrifice unto our Savior.
IV IT PERSEVERES EVEN TO THE END. "All our days." There is no break in our course. Our upward and onward path may be undulating, but it is continuous, and is ever making for the summit. We do not retire, or resign, or abdicate, in this noblest work, in this sacred office of being "servant of the Lord," "king and priest unto God." Having loved his own, our Master loved them unto the end; (Joh_13:1) and loving him whom we have not seen, and rejoicing in him with unspeakable joy, we are faithful unto death, and we know that "To him that overcometh A crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory Shall reign eternally. C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv73–74 The oath which He sware
Luk_1:73
The oath which He sware
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The purpose of Gods oath
God doth not give it to make His word or promise sure and steadfast, but to give assurance and security to us of their accomplishment.
Every word of God is sure and certain truth itself, because it is His; and He might justly require of us the belief of it, without any further attestation. But yet, knowing what great objections Satan and our own unbelieving hearts will raise against His promises, at least as to our own concerns in them, to confirm our minds, and to take away all pretences of unbelief, He interposes His oath in this matter. (John Owen.)
Gods covenants
A covenant is a contract, or a compact, between two agreeing parties, that, on certain conditions being observed by one party, the other will do as specified. God made a covenant of works with our first parents, that if they obeyed His commands they should enjoy His favour and blessings. Since the fall, God has made a covenant of grace by faith with mankind, that, trusting in Him, through atonement, they should be saved and blessed. God entered into covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Gen_17:2-14). God covenants with us that He will answer our believing prayers; that He will teach and guide those who are willing and obedient; that He will fulfil to us all His exceeding great and precious promises, if we perform the simple, easy, reasonable conditions attached to them. Then God will ever be faithful to His engagements. Suppose, said one, God were not to fulfil His promises to you. Then, was the reply of the Christian lady addressed, He would lose more than I should. This would be the fact, for in such a case God would lose the glory of His Divine faithfulness, truth, holiness, justice, mercy, love, &e. But this is an utter impossibility. God cannot lie, therefore we may each say, with David, He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure. (H. R. Burton.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v72 to show mercy to
to show mercy to
"to be merciful to" or "to act according to his mercy toward"
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remember
Here the word "remember" means to keep a commitment or fulfill something.
his holy covenant, the oath that he spoke
These two phrases refer to the same thing. They are repeated to show the seriousness of God's promise to Abraham. (See: Parallelism)
to grant to us
"to make it possible for us"
that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear
This can be stated in active form. AT: "that we would serve him without fear after he rescued us from the hand of our enemies" (See: Active or Passive)
out of the hand of our enemies
Here "hand" refers to the control or power a person. This could be stated clearly. AT: "from the control of our enemies" (See: Metonymy)
without fear
This refers back to the fear of their enemies. AT: "without being afraid of our enemies" (See: Ellipsis)
in holiness and righteousness
This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "holiness" and "righteousness." Possible meanings are 1) we would serve God in holy and righteous ways. AT: "doing what is holy and righteous" or 2) we would be holy and righteous. AT: "being holy and righteous" (See: Abstract Nouns)
before him
This is an idiom which means "in his presence" (See: Idiom)
translationWords
mercy
ancestor
holy
covenant
oath
Abraham
deliver
servant
righteous
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.