“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Elizabeth's conceiving and the resulting removal of her "reproach" (barrenness) wasn't just a personal joy, but a divine act of "looking upon" her, implying God’s active attention and intervention in her life. This wasn't merely a passive blessing but a purposeful act to restore her status and honor among people.
“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Zechariah is struck mute for his disbelief, his wife Elizabeth, who is also advanced in years, miraculously conceives. She hides herself for five months, likely to allow time for her pregnancy to become obvious and God's intervention clear, before this verse is spoken.
In ancient Jewish society, the inability to have children wasn't just a personal sadness; it carried a heavy social stigma. What did this mean for a woman like Elisabeth?
The Weight of Unfruitfulness
In Luke 1:25, Elisabeth speaks of God taking away her "reproach among men." This wasn't just a minor inconvenience. Among the Jewish people, having children was seen as a sign of God's favor and blessing.
Elisabeth hid herself for five months. Was this shame, or something else? Discover the thoughtful reasons behind her seclusion and her confidence in God's timing.
Wisdom in Waiting
Ask a follow-up
Elisabeth's decision to hide herself for five months after conceiving is intriguing. It wasn't out of embarrassment, but out of a profound trust in God's timing and a desire for His glory.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
The Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the universe, who exercises authority and providence over human history and individual lives.
oneidos · Greek Noun
A state of shame, disgrace, or public dishonor, particularly in the ancient Near Eastern context regarding barrenness, which was often viewed as a lack of divine favor.
Elisabeth's words here aren't just personal relief; they reflect a deeply ingrained cultural understanding in ancient Israel where childlessness was a profound social stigma, often interpreted as divine disfavor. Her joy signifies not just a mother's happiness, but a restoration of honor in the community.
c. 20 BC - 15 BC
Reign of Herod the Great
The Gospel narrative unfolds during the rule of Herod the Great, a Roman client king known for his ambitious building projects and often brutal consolidation of power in Judea.
c. 10 BC - 5 BC
Zacharias and Elisabeth's Ministry
Zacharias, a priest from the division of Abijah, and his wife Elisabeth, from a priestly family, live a righteous life in Judea. They are devout but face the deep sorrow of childlessness.
c. 5 BC
Angel Appears to Zacharias
While serving in the Jerusalem Temple during his priestly rotation, the angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias, announcing that his prayers for a child have been heard and that his wife Elisabeth will bear a son who will be a forerunner of the Lord.
c. 5 BC
Zacharias Struck Mute
Doubting the angel's message due to his and Elisabeth's advanced age, Zacharias is struck mute by Gabriel as a sign, remaining so until the child's birth and naming.
c. 5 BC— this verse
Elisabeth Conceives
Shortly after Gabriel's appearance to Zacharias, Elisabeth conceives. She hides herself for five months, likely contemplating the miracle and her impending public role.
c. 4 BC
John the Baptist is Born
Elisabeth gives birth to a son. On the eighth day, during the circumcision and naming ceremony, Zacharias's tongue is loosed, and he declares the child will be named John, confirming the angel's prophecy.
This verse directly parallels Elisabeth's sentiment, as Rachel also declared, 'God has taken away my reproach' after giving birth to Joseph, highlighting the deep cultural understanding of childbearing as a removal of shame.
1 Samuel 1:6Hannah's deep distress over her barrenness and her rival's taunting emphasizes the significant social stigma associated with childlessness in ancient Israel, making Elisabeth's joy even more profound.
Isaiah 4:1This passage speaks of a future time when women will cling to one man, saying, 'We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.' It connects childbearing to a woman's name and place in society, underscoring the 'reproach' Elisabeth is experiencing.
Luke 11:27The exclamation of a woman in the crowd, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!' shows that even in Jesus' day, the desire for a mother to have borne a significant child remained strong, echoing the joy and relief Elisabeth feels.
expositorsLuke 1:25: "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
Chapter 3THE GOSPEL PSALMS. UNLIKE modern church-builders, St. Luke sets his chancel by the porch. No sooner have we passed through the vestibule of his Gospel than we find ourselves within a circle of harmonies. On the one side are Zacharias and Simeon, the one chanting his "Benedictus," and the other his "Nunc Dimittis." Facing them, as if in antiphon, are Elisabeth and Mary,…
calvinLuke 1:21-25: "And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple."
- And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondered that he tarried in the temple. 22. And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made them to understand by signs, [21] and remained speechless. 23. And it happened, when the days of his office were fulfilled, he departed to his own house. 24. Now after these da…
The verse highlights that Elizabeth's conceiving and the resulting removal of her "reproach" (barrenness) wasn't just a personal joy, but a divine act of "looking upon" her, implying God’s active attention and intervention in her life. This wasn't merely a passive blessing but a purposeful act to restore her status and honor among people.
After Zechariah is struck mute for his disbelief, his wife Elizabeth, who is also advanced in years, miraculously conceives. She hides herself for five months, likely to allow time for her pregnancy to become obvious and God's intervention clear, before this verse is spoken.
After Zechariah is struck mute for his disbelief, his wife Elizabeth, who is also advanced in years, miraculously conceives. She hides herself for five months, likely to allow time for her pregnancy to become obvious and God's intervention clear, before this verse is spoken.
"“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”" — The verse highlights that Elizabeth's conceiving and the resulting removal of her "reproach" (barrenness) wasn't just a personal joy, but a divine act of "looking upon" her, implying God’s active att…
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Last reviewed October 2026