“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zacharias isn't just saying God will redeem; he's speaking with prophetic certainty that God has already effectively "made a ransom" through Christ's imminent arrival, even before the full work is completed. The word "visited" here carries a powerful sense of God actively coming to relieve suffering and bring salvation, not just a casual look.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit after his son John's birth, erupts in praise to God, recognizing that God's long-awaited promise of salvation is finally arriving. He understands this isn't just for Israel, but for all God's chosen people, ushering in a new era of redemption through the lineage of David.
Have you ever felt like God was distant, almost absent from your life or the world? Zechariah's song bursts with joy because God's silence is broken.
Zechariah blesses God because He has "visited" His people. This word doesn't just mean God dropped by for a casual visit. In the Old Testament, 'visiting' often meant God showing up to deliver, to judge, or to remember His people after a long period of silence or hardship. Think of God visiting the Israelites in Egypt to deliver them from slavery.
Here, in Luke 1, 'visiting' signifies God's active intervention after ages of prophecy and waiting. He is stepping into history in a tangible way through the birth of John and, even more profoundly, through the promised Messiah. It's the God of the universe showing up to be with His people, to know their condition intimately, and to act on their behalf.
The word 'redeemed' carries the weight of buying back something precious that was lost or enslaved. What does this mean for God's people?
Zechariah declares that God has "redeemed" His people. This isn't just a casual rescue; it implies a price paid. Redemption means to buy back, to set free, often by paying a ransom. The commentators highlight that this points forward to the ultimate redemption that Christ would accomplish through His sacrifice.
God's people were enslaved by sin and its consequences. They were held captive. Redemption signifies God providing the necessary payment—ultimately His own Son's life—to break the chains of sin, death, and the law. It’s a complete liberation, restoring them to life, liberty, and relationship with God.
Understand the original words
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eulogētos · Greek Adjective
A declaration of God’s supreme worth and goodness, acknowledging Him as the source of all grace and the recipient of all glory.
episkeptomai · Greek Verb
God's gracious arrival or manifestation in human history, often to intervene, judge, or deliver; it denotes an intimate, life-changing encounter between God and His people.
lytroō · Greek Verb
To buy back or liberate from slavery, bondage, or sin through the payment of a ransom, signifying God’s work of freeing His people from the power of evil.
keras · Greek Noun
A metaphorical symbol of strength, royal power, authority, and ultimate victory, often representing a king or the Messiah as the source of deliverance.
sōtēria · Greek Noun
Deliverance from sin, death, and the judgment of God; the act of being rescued from the power and penalty of evil to enjoy eternal union with God.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Those whom God has specially set apart and consecrated for His service and divine communication throughout human history.
Zechariah's song echoes throughout Israel's history, linking the present miraculous birth to God's long-awaited plan of redemption promised from Abraham and David, now finally unfolding.
c. 2000 BC
God's Covenant with Abraham
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and a blessing upon all nations through his lineage. This promise is foundational to God's relationship with Israel.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God liberates the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, a pivotal 'visitation' and 'redemption' that becomes a touchstone for future deliverance.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David becomes king, and God promises that his royal line will endure forever, a key prophecy linked to the future Messiah.
c. 750-600 BC
Prophetic Promises of a New Exodus
Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah speak of a future, greater redemption and 'visitation' by God, often referencing the Davidic line and a new covenant.
c. 63 BC
Herod the Great Rules Judea
The Roman-backed King Herod the Great is in power, a time of political tension and anticipation for a promised deliverer.
c. 3 BC - 2 BC— this verse
Conception of John the Baptist
The miraculous conception of John the Baptist occurs to Elizabeth and Zechariah, fulfilling prophecies about a forerunner.
This passage describes God 'visiting' His people in Egypt during their suffering, paralleling Zechariah's praise for God visiting and redeeming His people through Christ.
Psalm 72:18This psalm begins with a similar declaration, 'Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things,' highlighting the ancient context of God's redemptive work for Israel that Zechariah echoes.
Isaiah 11:1This prophecy speaks of a 'shoot' coming from the 'stump of Jesse' (David's father), which is later understood to be the Messiah, linking to Zechariah's mention of a 'horn of salvation' raised up 'in the house of his servant David.'
Titus 2:14This New Testament verse speaks of Christ giving himself for us to 'redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people eager to do good works,' directly echoing the theme of redemption proclaimed by Zechariah.
barnesLuke 1:68: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,"
Blessed - See the notes at Matthew 5:3 . Hath visited - The word here rendered "visited" means properly "to look upon;" then to look upon in order "to know the state of anyone;" then to visit for the purpose of "aiding those who need aid," or alleviating misery. Compare Matthew 25:43. In this sense it is used here. God "looked upon" the world - he saw it miserable - he came to relieve it, and brought sa…
cambridgeLuke 1:68: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,"
68 . Blessed ] This hymn of praise is hence called the Benedictus. It has been in use in Christian worship perhaps as far back as the days of St Benedict in the sixth century, and it was early recognised that it is the last Prophecy of the Old Dispensation, and the first of the New, and furnishes a kind of key to the evangelical interpretation of all prophecies. It is also a continual acknowledgment of…
Zacharias isn't just saying God will redeem; he's speaking with prophetic certainty that God has already effectively "made a ransom" through Christ's imminent arrival, even before the full work is completed. The word "visited" here carries a powerful sense of God actively coming to relieve suffering and bring salvation, not just a casual look.
Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit after his son John's birth, erupts in praise to God, recognizing that God's long-awaited promise of salvation is finally arriving. He understands this isn't just for Israel, but for all God's chosen people, ushering in a new era of redemption through the lineage of David.
Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit after his son John's birth, erupts in praise to God, recognizing that God's long-awaited promise of salvation is finally arriving. He understands this isn't just for Israel, but for all God's chosen people, ushering in a new era of redemption through the lineage of David.
"“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old," — Zacharias isn't just saying God will redeem; he's speaking with prophetic certainty that God has already effectively "made a ransom" through Christ's imminent arrival, even before the full work i…
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Last reviewed October 2026