But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes a "double hindrance" – Elizabeth's barrenness and their advanced age – not just to highlight the miracle, but to underscore how impossible this seemed by human standards. This setup positions John the Baptist's birth as a profound sign, mirroring Old Testament miracles, that God's intervention is necessary when all natural hope is gone.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse introduces Zechariah and Elizabeth, a devout couple from priestly lineage, who are presented as righteous in God's eyes. Despite their faithfulness, they face the deep sorrow of childlessness, a significant misfortune in their culture and a potential mark of divine disapproval, further compounded by their advanced age. This difficult circumstance sets the stage for a miraculous intervention, highlighting that John the Baptist's birth would be entirely God's doing, not a result of human effort or natural ability.
In ancient times, having children wasn't just a personal desire—it was a sign of God's blessing and a crucial part of the community. What did this verse imply about their situation?
The Social and Spiritual Significance of Children
In the culture surrounding Luke's Gospel, childlessness was not just a personal tragedy; it carried significant social and spiritual weight.
When Luke tells us Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years, he's not just stating a biological fact. He's highlighting a deep-seated societal and spiritual longing that remained unfulfilled, making their situation all the more poignant.
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We read that Elizabeth was barren and they were both old. Why mention both? It wasn't just bad luck; it was a divine setup for something extraordinary.
The Miraculous Impossibility
Luke doesn't just present a couple facing a natural disappointment; he paints a picture of dual impossibility designed to magnify God's power.
This combination of circumstances—a woman naturally unable to conceive, coupled with the biological realities of old age for both parents—created a situation where humanly speaking, a child was impossible. As the commentators note, this mirrors the miraculous births of Isaac and Samson, setting the stage for an event that could only be attributed to divine intervention. It was God's way of ensuring that when John the Baptist arrived, no one could doubt his divine origin or purpose.
Understand the original words
steira · Greek Adjective
Refers to the physical inability to conceive or bear children. In Scripture, this condition was often viewed as a heavy social and personal trial, yet it frequently serves as a prelude to a miraculous intervention by God.
The barrenness and advanced age of Elizabeth, coupled with Zechariah's priestly duties, highlight the miraculous nature of John the Baptist's birth. This echoes Old Testament precedents like Isaac's birth, emphasizing divine intervention when human possibility is exhausted.
c. 1500 BC - 400 BC
Priestly Divisions Established
King David organizes the 24 divisions of priests to serve in the Temple rotation, based on family lines like the course of Abia.
c. 63 BC - 4 BC
Reign of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, an Idumean appointed king by Rome, rules Judea. Though not of Davidic lineage, his reign marks a significant political period and the perceived end of Jewish self-rule.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Zechariah Serves in the Temple
Zechariah, a priest from the division of Abia, is serving his rotation in the Jerusalem Temple, a highly revered duty.
Early 1st century AD
Angel Appears to Zechariah
During his service, an angel of the Lord appears to Zechariah in the Temple, announcing the miraculous birth of his son, John.
Early 1st century AD
Birth of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gives birth to John, fulfilling the angel's prophecy and marking the miraculous arrival of the forerunner of the Messiah.
c. AD 27-30
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist begins his public ministry of repentance and baptism in the wilderness of Judea, preparing the way for Jesus.
This passage parallels Elizabeth and Zechariah's situation, as it describes Abraham and Sarah's advanced age and Sarah's barrenness, setting the stage for a miraculous birth.
1 Samuel 1:6Hannah's barrenness and her deep longing for a child, much like Elizabeth's, is a recurring theme of divine intervention in seemingly impossible births for God's purposes.
Romans 4:19Paul's discussion of Abraham's faith, who 'considered his own body as good as dead,' directly relates to the humanly impossible circumstances of Zechariah and Elizabeth's eventual parenthood.
Matthew 1:18This verse highlights the miraculous conception of Jesus, showing that divine intervention in births, even those that seem naturally impossible, is a key way God brings about His redemptive plan.
calvinLuke 1:5-13: "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth."
- In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7. And the…
clarkeLuke 1:7: "And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years."
Both 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,…
The text emphasizes a "double hindrance" – Elizabeth's barrenness and their advanced age – not just to highlight the miracle, but to underscore how impossible this seemed by human standards. This setup positions John the Baptist's birth as a profound sign, mirroring Old Testament miracles, that God's intervention is necessary when all natural hope is gone.
This verse introduces Zechariah and Elizabeth, a devout couple from priestly lineage, who are presented as righteous in God's eyes. Despite their faithfulness, they face the deep sorrow of childlessness, a significant misfortune in their culture and a potential mark of divine disapproval, further compounded by their advanced age. This difficult circumstance sets the stage for a miraculous intervention, highlighting that John the Baptist's birth would be entirely God's doing, not a result of human effort or natural ability.
This verse introduces Zechariah and Elizabeth, a devout couple from priestly lineage, who are presented as righteous in God's eyes. Despite their faithfulness, they face the deep sorrow of childlessness, a significant misfortune in their culture and a potential mark of divine disapproval, further compounded by their advanced age. This difficult circumstance sets the stage for a miraculous intervention, highlighting that John the Baptist's birth would be entirely God's doing, not a result of human effort or natural ability.
"But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years." — The text emphasizes a "double hindrance" – Elizabeth's barrenness and their advanced age – not just to highlight the miracle, but to underscore how impossible this seemed by human standards. This s…
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Last reviewed October 2026