Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel, for hee hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised vp an horne of saluation for vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid, As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which haue bene since the world began: That wee should be saued from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate vs, That hee would grant vnto vs, that wee beeing deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, might serue him without feare, In holinesse and righteousnesse before him, all the dayes of our life. And thou childe shalt bee called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes. To giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes, Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited vs, To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the childe grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts, till the day of his shewing vnto Israel.
Parallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,because he has visitedand provided redemption for his people.
King James Version
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
English Standard Version
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
New American Standard Bible
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
New Century Version
"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
Amplified Bible
"Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
Legacy Standard Bible
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,For He visited and accomplished redemption for His people,
Berean Standard Bible
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
Contemporary English Version
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to save his people.
Complete Jewish Bible
" Praised be Adonai , the God of Isra'el , because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
Darby Translation
Blessed be [the] Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people,
Easy-to-Read Version
"Praise to the Lord God of Israel. He has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,
George Lamsa Translation
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has visited his people and wrought a salvation for them.
Good News Translation
"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
Lexham English Bible
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and has redeemed his people,
Literal Translation
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He visited and worked redemption for His people.
American Standard Version
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
Bible in Basic English
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,
Hebrew Names Version
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Yisra'el, For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
Etheridge Translation
Blessed be the Lord, the Aloha of Israel; For he hath visited his people, and wrought for him redemption,
Murdock Translation
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath visited his people, and wrought redemption for them:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Praysed be ye Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited & redeemed his people.
English Revised Version
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
World English Bible
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Weymouth's New Testament
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visitid, and maad redempcioun of his puple.
Update Bible Version
Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he has visited and made redemption for his people,
Webster's Bible Translation
Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.
New English Translation
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
New King James Version
"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,
New Living Translation
"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
New Life Bible
"Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free.
New Revised Standard
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people.
Revised Standard Version
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel for he hath visited and redemed his people.
Young's Literal Translation
`Blessed [is] the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Blessed be ye LORDE God of Israel, for he hath vysited and redemed his people.
Mace New Testament (1729)
"blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he hath regarded and wrought a deliverance for his people:
Simplified Cowboy Version
"Praise be to the Boss of Israel. He's come to lend a hand to his people and freed them in the process.
Contextual Overview
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel, for hee hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised vp an horne of saluation for vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid, As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which haue bene since the world began: That wee should be saued from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate vs, That hee would grant vnto vs, that wee beeing deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, might serue him without feare, In holinesse and righteousnesse before him, all the dayes of our life. And thou childe shalt bee called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes. To giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes, Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited vs, To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the childe grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts, till the day of his shewing vnto Israel. 69span data-lang="eng" data-trans="kja" data-ref="luk.1.1" class="versetxt"> Forasmuch as many haue taken in hande to set foorth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely beleeued among vs, Euen as they deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, & ministers of the word: It seemed good to me also, hauing had perfect vnderstanding of things from the very first, to write vnto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainetie of those things wherein thou hast bene instructed. There was in the dayes of Herode the king of Iudea, a certaine Priest, named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandements and ordinances of the Lord, blamelesse. And they had no childe, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well striken in yeeres. And it came to passe, that while he executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course, According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense. And there appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the Altar of incense. And when Zacharias sawe him, hee was troubled, and feare fell vpon him. But the Angel said vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn. And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnesse, and many shall reioyce at his birth: For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shal drinke neither wine, nor strong drinke, and he shall bee filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe. And many of the children of Israel shall hee turne to the Lord their God. And hee shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said vnto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well striken in yeeres. And the Angel answering, said vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumbe, and not able to speake, vntill the day that these things shall bee performed, because thou beleeuest not my words, which shall bee fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and maruelled that hee taried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speake vnto them: and they perceiued that he had seene a vision in the temple: for he beckened vnto them, and remained speechlesse. And it came to passe, that as soone as the dayes of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his owne house. And after those dayes his wife Elizabeth conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the dayes wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproch among men. And in the sixt moneth, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, vnto a citie of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgine espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie. And the Angel came in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art highly fauoured, the Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her minde what maner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said vnto her, Feare not, Marie, for thou hast found fauour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and bring forth a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the sonne of the Highest, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid. And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome there shall be no end. Then said Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel answered and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the Highest shall ouershadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall bee called the sonne of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her old age, and this is the sixt moneth with her, who was called barren. For with God no thing shall be vnpossible. And Marie said, Behold the handmaide of the Lord, be it vnto me according to thy word: and the Angel departed from her. And Marie arose in those dayes, and went into the hill countrey with haste, into a citie of Iuda, And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to passe that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Marie, the babe leaped in her wombe, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voyce, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to mee? For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe leaped in my wombe for ioy. And blessed is she that beleeued, for there shalbe a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord. And Marie said, My soule doth magnifie the Lord. And my spirit hath reioyced in God my sauiour. For hee hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from hencefoorth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to mee great things, and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation. Hee hath shewed strength with his arme, he hath scattered the proud, in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of low degree. Hee hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich hee hath sent emptie away. Hee hath holpen his seruant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for euer. And Mary abode with her about three moneths, and returned to her owne house. Now Elizabeths full time came, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy vpon her, and they reioyced with her. And it came to passe that on the eight day they came to circumcise the childe, and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered, and said, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn. And they said vnto her, There is none of thy kinred that is called by this name. And they made signes to his father, how he would haue him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn: and they marueiled all. And his mouth was opened immediatly, and his tongue loosed, and hee spake, and praised God. And feare came on all that dwelt round about them, and all these sayings were noised abroad thorowout all the hill countrey of Iudea. And all they that had heard them, layde them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner of childe shal this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel, for hee hath visited and redeemed his people, 70 And hath raised vp an horne of saluation for vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid, 71 As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which haue bene since the world began: 72 That wee should be saued from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate vs, That hee would grant vnto vs, that wee beeing deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, might serue him without feare, In holinesse and righteousnesse before him, all the dayes of our life. And thou childe shalt bee called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes. To giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes, Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited vs, To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the childe grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts, till the day of his shewing vnto Israel. 73span data-lang="eng" data-trans="kja" data-ref="luk.1.1" class="versetxt"> Forasmuch as many haue taken in hande to set foorth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely beleeued among vs, Euen as they deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, & ministers of the word: It seemed good to me also, hauing had perfect vnderstanding of things from the very first, to write vnto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainetie of those things wherein thou hast bene instructed. There was in the dayes of Herode the king of Iudea, a certaine Priest, named Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandements and ordinances of the Lord, blamelesse. And they had no childe, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well striken in yeeres. And it came to passe, that while he executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course, According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense. And there appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the Altar of incense. And when Zacharias sawe him, hee was troubled, and feare fell vpon him. But the Angel said vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn. And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnesse, and many shall reioyce at his birth: For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shal drinke neither wine, nor strong drinke, and he shall bee filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe. And many of the children of Israel shall hee turne to the Lord their God. And hee shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said vnto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well striken in yeeres. And the Angel answering, said vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumbe, and not able to speake, vntill the day that these things shall bee performed, because thou beleeuest not my words, which shall bee fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and maruelled that hee taried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speake vnto them: and they perceiued that he had seene a vision in the temple: for he beckened vnto them, and remained speechlesse. And it came to passe, that as soone as the dayes of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his owne house. And after those dayes his wife Elizabeth conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the dayes wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproch among men. And in the sixt moneth, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, vnto a citie of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgine espoused to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie. And the Angel came in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art highly fauoured, the Lord is with thee: Blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her minde what maner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said vnto her, Feare not, Marie, for thou hast found fauour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and bring forth a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the sonne of the Highest, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid. And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome there shall be no end. Then said Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel answered and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the Highest shall ouershadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall bee called the sonne of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her old age, and this is the sixt moneth with her, who was called barren. For with God no thing shall be vnpossible. And Marie said, Behold the handmaide of the Lord, be it vnto me according to thy word: and the Angel departed from her. And Marie arose in those dayes, and went into the hill countrey with haste, into a citie of Iuda, And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to passe that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Marie, the babe leaped in her wombe, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voyce, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to mee? For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe leaped in my wombe for ioy. And blessed is she that beleeued, for there shalbe a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord. And Marie said, My soule doth magnifie the Lord. And my spirit hath reioyced in God my sauiour. For hee hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from hencefoorth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to mee great things, and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation. Hee hath shewed strength with his arme, he hath scattered the proud, in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of low degree. Hee hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich hee hath sent emptie away. Hee hath holpen his seruant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for euer. And Mary abode with her about three moneths, and returned to her owne house. Now Elizabeths full time came, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy vpon her, and they reioyced with her. And it came to passe that on the eight day they came to circumcise the childe, and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered, and said, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn. And they said vnto her, There is none of thy kinred that is called by this name. And they made signes to his father, how he would haue him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn: and they marueiled all. And his mouth was opened immediatly, and his tongue loosed, and hee spake, and praised God. And feare came on all that dwelt round about them, and all these sayings were noised abroad thorowout all the hill countrey of Iudea. And all they that had heard them, layde them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner of childe shal this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel, for hee hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised vp an horne of saluation for vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid, As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which haue bene since the world began: That wee should be saued from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate vs, 74 That hee would grant vnto vs, that wee beeing deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, might serue him without feare, 75 In holinesse and righteousnesse before him, all the dayes of our life. 76 And thou childe shalt bee called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Blessed: Genesis 9:26, Genesis 14:20, 1 Kings 1:48, 1 Chronicles 29:10, 1 Chronicles 29:20, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 72:17-19, Psalms 106:48, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3
he: Luke 7:16, Luke 19:44, Exodus 3:16, Exodus 3:17, Exodus 4:31, Psalms 111:9, Ephesians 1:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:1 - visited Genesis 22:17 - thy seed Genesis 24:27 - Blessed Exodus 18:10 - General Judges 5:1 - Sang Deborah Ruth 1:6 - visited 1 Samuel 2:21 - visited 1 Samuel 25:32 - General 1 Kings 8:15 - Blessed 1 Kings 8:25 - keep with thy 2 Chronicles 2:12 - Huram 2 Chronicles 6:4 - Blessed 2 Chronicles 20:26 - blessed Psalms 8:4 - visitest Psalms 72:14 - he shall Psalms 107:2 - Let the Psalms 136:24 - General Psalms 138:2 - and praise Isaiah 29:22 - who redeemed Zephaniah 2:7 - shall visit Zechariah 10:3 - visited Luke 2:28 - and Luke 24:21 - General John 1:17 - grace Acts 13:32 - how Acts 15:14 - declared Romans 11:28 - are beloved 2 Corinthians 1:20 - all Galatians 3:17 - the covenant Galatians 4:5 - redeem Hebrews 2:6 - visitest 1 Peter 2:12 - the day
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,.... This was a form of blessing of long standing, Psalms 72:18 and very likely was in use, more or less, ever since Israel was distinguished from other nations, became a body politic, and were settled in the land of Canaan, in the enjoyment of peculiar privileges, both civil and religious; see other forms before it in Genesis 9:26 and now, this was very near being antiquated, and out of date; for upon the birth of Christ, the Son of God manifest in the flesh, the New Testament form of blessing runs, as in 2 Corinthians 1:3 The reason of its being now made use of might be, because the Messiah, the principal subject of this song, was peculiarly promised unto Israel, was raised up for them, and sent unto them. To bless God, is not to invoke a blessing on him; for there is none greater than he to ask one of; nor does he stand in need of any, being the Creator, who is blessed for ever in himself, and is the fountain of blessedness to his creatures: and therefore, also, cannot signify to confer a blessing on him, but to praise and glorify him, on account of the perfections of his nature, and the works of his hands; and to give thanks unto him for all mercies, spiritual and temporal; and especially for Jesus Christ, his mission, incarnation, and salvation by him, which are the things the God of Israel is blessed for in this song:
for he hath visited, and redeemed his people; as he did Israel of old, Exodus 3:16 when the Lord looked upon them, and delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt, and which was a type and resemblance of redemption by Christ; and to which reference here seems to be had. The "people" here said to be visited, and redeemed, design all the elect of God, not only among the Jews, but Gentiles also; all those whom God has chosen to be his people, and has in his covenant taken and declared to be such; whom he has given to Christ, as his people and portion; for whose sins he was stricken, and made reconciliation, and whom he saves from their sins. The act of "visiting" them, as previous to redemption, may include God's look of love upon them from everlasting; his choice of them in Christ unto salvation; the appointment and provision of a Saviour for them; the covenant of grace made with them in Christ, the foundation and security of their salvation; and particularly the mission of Christ in human nature, in consequence of the council, covenant, and promise of God: or it designs his incarnation, for he was now actually conceived in the womb of the virgin: so that God had visited, and looked upon his people, and remembered his love and mercy, his covenant and promise to them: and the "redemption" of them, which was now said to be made, or done, because Christ was now sent to do it, and because it was as sure, as if it was done, intends the spiritual and eternal redemption of them by the price of his blood, from the slavery of sin, the bondage of the law, and curse of it, and the captivity of Satan, and a deliverance out of the hands of every enemy; a redemption which reaches both to soul and body, and secures from all condemnation and wrath to come; and includes every blessing in it, as justification, forgiveness of sins, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life; and is a plenteous, full, complete, and everlasting one.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Blessed - See the notes at Matthew 5:3.
Hath visited - The word here rendered âvisitedâ means properly âto look upon;â then to look upon in order âto know the state of anyone;â then to visit for the purpose of âaiding those who need aid,â or alleviating misery. Compare Matthew 25:43. In this sense it is used here. God âlooked uponâ the world - he saw it miserable - he came to relieve it, and brought salvation.
And redeemed - That is, was âabout to redeem,â or had given the pledge that he âwould redeem.â This was spoken under the belief that the Messiah, âthe Redeemer,â was about to appear, and would certainly accomplish his work. The literal translation of this passage is, âHe hath made a âransomâ for his people. A âransomâ was the âpriceâ paid to deliver a captive taken in war. A is a prisoner taken in war by B. B has a right to detain him as a prisoner by the laws of war, but C offers B a âpriceâ if he will release A and suffer him to go at liberty. The price which he pays, and which must be âsatisfactoryâ to B - that is, be a âreasonâ to B why he should release him is called a âpriceâ or âransom.â Men are sinners. They are bound over to just punishment by the law. The law is holy, and God, as a just governor, must see that the law is honored and the wicked punished; but if anything can be done which will have the same âgood effectâ as the punishment of the sinner, or which will be an âequivalentâ for it - that is, be of equal value to the universe - God may consistently release him.
If he can show the same hatred of sin, and deter others from sinning, and secure the purity of the sinner, the sinner may be released. Whatever will accomplish âthisâ is called a âransom,â because it is, in the eye of God, a sufficient âreasonâ why the sinner should not be punished; it is an equivalent for his sufferings, and God is satisfied. The âblood of Jesusâ - that is, his death in the place of sinners constitutes such a ransom. It is in their stead. It is for them. It is equivalent to their punishment. It is not itself a âpunishment,â for that always supposes âpersonal crime,â but it is what God is pleased to accept in the place of the eternal sufferings of the sinner. The king of the âLocriansâ made a law that an adulterer should be punished with the loss of his eyes. His âsonâ was the first offender, and the father decreed that his son should lose one eye, and he himself one also. This was the âransom.â He showed his âlove,â his regard for the honor of his law, and the determination that the guilty should not escape. So God gave his Son a âransomâ to show his love, his regard to justice, and his willingness to save people; and his Son, in his death, was a ransom. He is often so called in the New Testament, Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12. For a fuller view of the nature of a ransom, see the notes at Romans 3:24-25.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for, c.] Zacharias praises God for two grand benefits which he had granted to his people. 1. He has visited them. 2. He has ransomed them.
1. He speaks by the spirit of prophecy, which calls things that are not, as though they were because they are absolutely determined by the Most High, and shall be all fulfilled in their season. God visits his people in the incarnation of Jesus Christ; therefore this Christ is called by him, κÏ
ÏιοÏοθεοÏ, Jehovah the God of Israel. Here the highest and most glorious character of the Supreme Being is given to Christ.
2. This God redeems his people: it is for this end that he visits them. His soul is about to be made a sacrifice for sin: he becomes flesh, that he may suffer and die for the sin of the world. God, by taking upon him the nature of man, has redeemed that nature from eternal ruin.
He hath-redeemed — εÏοιηÏε λÏ
ÏÏÏÏιν, he hath made a ransom - laid down the ransom price. λÏ
ÏÏÎ¿Ï signifies particularly to ransom a captive from the enemy, by paying a price. The following remarkable passage from Josephus, Ant. b. xiv. c. 14, sect. 1, fully illustrates this meaning of the original. "Herod, not knowing what had happened to his brother, hastened λÏ
ÏÏÏÏαÏθαι, to ransom him from the enemy, and was willing to pay λÏ
ÏÏον Ï
ÏÎµÏ Î±Ï
ÏοÏ
, a ransom for him, to the amount of three hundred talents." Sinners are fallen into the hands of their enemies, and are captives to sin and death. Jesus ransoms them by his own blood, and restores them to life, liberty, and happiness. this truth the whole Bible teaches: this truth God has shown in certain measures, even to those nations who have not been favoured with the light of his written word: for Christ is that true light, which enlightens every man that cometh into the world.
How astonishing is the following invocation of the Supreme Being, (translated from the original Sanscreet by Dr. C. WILKINS,) still existing on a stone, in a cave near she ancient city of Gya, in the East Indies!
"The Deity, who is the Lord, the possessor of all, appeared in this ocean of natural beings, at the beginning of the Kalee Yoog (the age of contention and baseness.) He who is omnipresent and everlastingly to be contemplated, the Supreme Being, the Eternal One, the Divinity worthy to be adored-APPEARED here with a PORTION of his DIVINE NATURE. Reverence be unto thee in the form of (a) Bood-dha! Reverence be unto the Lord of the earth! Reverence be unto thee, an INCARNATION of the Deity, and the Eternal One! Reverence be unto thee, O God, in the form of the God of mercy; the dispeller of pain and trouble, the Lord of all things, the Deity who overcometh the sins of the Kalee Yoog; the guardian of the universe, the emblem of mercy toward those who serve thee - (b) O'M! the possessor of all things in VITAL FORM! Thou art (c) Brahma, Veeshnoo, and Mahesa! Thou art Lord of the universe! Thou art under the form of all things, movable and immovable, the possessor of the whole! and thus I adore thee. Reverence be unto the BESTOWER OF SALVATION, and the Ruler of the faculties! Reverence be unto thee, the DESTROYER of the EVIL SPIRIT! O Damordara, (d) show me favour! I adore thee, who art celebrated by a thousand names, and under various forms, in the shape of Bood-dha, the God of MERCY! Be propitious, O Most High God!"-ASIATIC RESEARCHES, vol. i. pp. 284, 285.
(a) Bood-dha. The name of the Deity, as author of happiness.
(b) O'M. A mystic emblem of the Deity, forbidden to be pronounced but in silence. It is a syllable formed of the Sanscreet letters a, o o, which in composition coalesce, and make o, and the nasal consonant m. The first letter stands for the Creator, the second for the Preserver and the third for the Destroyer. It is the same among the Hindoos as ×××× Yehovah is among the Hebrews.
(c) Brahma, the Deity in his creative quality. Veeshnoo, he who filleth all space, the Deity in his preserving quality. Mahesa, the Deity in his destroying quality. This is properly the Hindoo Trinity: for these three names belong to the same Being. See the notes to the Bhagvat Geeta.
(d) Damordara, or Darmadeve, the Indian God of Virtue.
