as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse emphasizes that God's promises about the Messiah weren't a sudden revelation, but a thread woven through all of history, from the earliest moments of creation. The phrase "since the world began" points back to the very first promises, showing that the coming of Jesus was God's plan from the absolute beginning.
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah is finally able to speak after being struck mute, and he bursts into prophetic praise about his son John, who will be the forerunner of the Messiah. He declares that God has raised up a mighty savior, fulfilling ancient promises spoken through His prophets from the very beginning of time, promises that stretched all the way back to the earliest days of humanity.
Have you ever felt like God's message changes or is hard to pin down? Zacharias reminds us God's word is remarkably steady.
This verse highlights that God didn't just start speaking at this moment. He has been communicating His plans through 'holy prophets' for a very long time.
A Line of Revelation
Think of it like a relay race. God passed the baton of His message from one prophet to the next. From Abraham, to Moses, to Isaiah, and many others, each faithfully declared God's heart and future plans. This continuity shows God's commitment to revealing Himself and His purposes.
Not Just Any Spokespeople
They are called 'holy prophets.' This means they were set apart by God, dedicated to Him and His service. Their message wasn't their own; it was God's, spoken 'by the mouth' of those He chose and consecrated.
The promise of a Savior didn't just appear out of nowhere. It's ancient, woven into the very fabric of human history.
The phrase 'from of old' (or 'since the world began') is crucial. It tells us that God's plan to send a rescuer wasn't a last-minute idea.
From the Beginning
Commentators point out that this language stretches all the way back to the very first promises given after Adam and Eve's sin in Genesis 3:15. God immediately revealed that a descendant would crush the serpent's head – the first hint of the Messiah.
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A Thread Through Time
This promise continued to unfold through key figures like Abraham, Moses, and David, appearing in different forms and at different times. It’s a consistent theme, a divine thread running through all of history, pointing towards the coming of Jesus.
Understand the original words
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Those whom God has specially set apart and consecrated for His service and divine communication throughout human history.
Zechariah's song emphasizes that the promises of the Messiah weren't a new idea, but the culmination of God's plan revealed through prophets stretching all the way back to the earliest days of Israel's history.
c. 1400 BC
The Law of Moses is Given
God establishes His covenant with Israel through Moses, giving them the Law and appointing prophets, marking a significant moment in the lineage of prophecy. This period is seen as the beginning of a long line of prophetic messages pointing towards future redemption.
c. 8th century BC
Prophecies of Isaiah and Micah
Prophets like Isaiah and Micah deliver profound messages about a coming Messiah, his virgin birth, his suffering, and his everlasting kingdom, laying further groundwork for future messianic hope.
c. 7th century BC
Prophecies of Jeremiah
Jeremiah prophesies during a time of national crisis, foretelling exile but also a future covenant and restoration, continuing the thread of messianic expectation.
c. 5th century BC
Post-Exilic Prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
These prophets encourage the returned exiles, speak of rebuilding the Temple, and continue to point towards the coming of the Lord and His anointed.
c. 20 BC— this verse
Birth of John the Baptist
The miraculous birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who would prepare the way for the Messiah, is announced by the angel Gabriel to his father Zechariah.
c. AD 28
Ministry of John the Baptist Begins
John the Baptist begins his public ministry, preaching repentance and baptizing in the wilderness, fulfilling prophecies and heralding the immediate arrival of Jesus.
This verse is often seen as the first gospel promise, directly linking to the idea that God's plan, spoken through prophets 'since the world began,' started right at the fall of humanity.
Deuteronomy 18:15Moses foretold a prophet like himself, a prophecy that spans through all subsequent prophetic voices and points to a fulfillment in the Messiah, just as Zechariah is saying.
Acts 3:21Peter explicitly states that all the prophets from time began (since the world began) have spoken about the restoration of all things, directly echoing the sentiment in Luke 1:70.
Hebrews 1:1This passage highlights God speaking in many different ways and at different times through the prophets, reinforcing the continuity and ancient origin of God's communication that Zechariah references.
barnesLuke 1:70: "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:"
His holy prophets ... - All the prophets are said to have referred to the Messiah, from the beginning of the world. The most striking of these were Jacob Genesis 49:10 ; Moses Deuteronomy 18:15 ; Isaiah Isa 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:1-12 . Since the world began - This is not to be taken literally, for there were no prophets "immediately after" the creation. It is merely a general expression, designed to de…
cambridgeLuke 1:70: "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:"
70 . by the mouth of his holy prophets ] namely “in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms,” see on Luke 24:44 . since the world began ] Rather, of old ( ἀπ ' αἰῶνος ). “At sundry times and in divers manners” ( Hebrews 1:1 ) but even “in old time” ( 2 Peter 1:21 ) and dating back even to the promises to Eve and to Abraham ( Genesis 3:15 ; Genesis 22:18 ; Genesis 49:10 ) and the s…
This verse emphasizes that God's promises about the Messiah weren't a sudden revelation, but a thread woven through all of history, from the earliest moments of creation. The phrase "since the world began" points back to the very first promises, showing that the coming of Jesus was God's plan from the absolute beginning.
Zechariah is finally able to speak after being struck mute, and he bursts into prophetic praise about his son John, who will be the forerunner of the Messiah. He declares that God has raised up a mighty savior, fulfilling ancient promises spoken through His prophets from the very beginning of time, promises that stretched all the way back to the earliest days of humanity.
Zechariah is finally able to speak after being struck mute, and he bursts into prophetic praise about his son John, who will be the forerunner of the Messiah. He declares that God has raised up a mighty savior, fulfilling ancient promises spoken through His prophets from the very beginning of time, promises that stretched all the way back to the earliest days of humanity.
"as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old," — This verse emphasizes that God's promises about the Messiah weren't a sudden revelation, but a thread woven through all of history, from the earliest moments of creation. The phrase "since the world…
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Last reviewed October 2026