Luke 1:70 Meaning Explained

Luke 1:70

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

English Standard Version (ESV)

The phrase "since the world began" isn't just a casual way of saying "a long time ago." It points back to the very first promises of a Redeemer, connecting John the Baptist's arrival not just to Old Testament prophets, but to God's original plan for salvation whispered even in Eden. This highlights that God's redemptive storyline, foretold by prophets, stretches all the way back to creation itself.

What Luke 1:70 means

Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, bursts into prophecy after his son John is born and circumcised. He proclaims God's faithfulness to His ancient promises, recounting how God swore oaths to Abraham to rescue His people from enemies and serve them in holiness. This song connects John's birth directly to the long-awaited salvation spoken of by prophets throughout history, from the very beginning.

Prophets: God's Mouthpiece, Always

Have you ever wondered if God's message has always been the same? Zacharias points to a long line of messengers. What does that tell us about God's faithfulness?

A Consistent Word

Zacharias declares that God "spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets." This isn't just a poetic phrase; it's a theological statement. It means God's message wasn't a spontaneous, one-off event with John the Baptist. Instead, it's been a continuous stream of revelation, delivered through chosen individuals across history.

Divine Authority: The prophets weren't just sharing their own thoughts. They were conduits for God's very words. The phrase "by the mouth of" emphasizes that God is the ultimate source, using human beings as His instruments.
Holy Instruments: These prophets were "holy." This sets them apart, consecrated for God's service. It reminds us that God uses purified vessels to communicate His will.
Unbroken Chain: This speaks to the consistency of God's plan. The message about salvation, though unfolding over centuries, always originated from the same divine source.

Prophecy's Deep Roots: From Time Immemorial

The phrase 'since the world began' sounds ancient, but what does it really mean for God's plan? It stretches further back than you might think!

The Long Arc of God's Plan

The phrase translated "since the world began" (or "of old") isn't meant to imply prophets existed literally from the moment of creation. Instead, it points to the immense antiquity of God's prophetic plan.

The First Promise: It reaches back to the very earliest promises, like the one made to Eve in Genesis 3:15 – the first hint of a coming Redeemer.
It includes the foundational promises made to Abraham and his descendants, which carried prophetic weight about a future lineage and blessing.

Understand the original words

Original language

prophetsπροφήτης

prophētēs · Greek Noun

Those whom God has specially set apart and consecrated for His service and divine communication throughout human history.

Historical context

Written: Likely between 60-62 AD.
Author: Luke the Evangelist, traditionally understood as a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul.
Location: Written from Judea, likely during Paul's ministry.
Genre: Gospel narrative, featuring a song (canticle) that incorporates prophetic and historical allusions.

Historical background

Zechariah's words emphasize that the miraculous events surrounding John's birth, and by extension Jesus's coming, were not random but the long-awaited culmination of God's plan revealed through prophets across generations, from Moses to Isaiah and Daniel.

c. 1400 BC
Moses Receives the Law
Moses, a key prophet, receives God's law, which includes prophecies about a future leader like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). This marks an early point in God's communication through prophets.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecies
The prophet Isaiah delivers powerful prophecies about a coming king from the line of David, describing his virgin birth and future reign (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7).
c. 605 BC
Daniel's Vision
The prophet Daniel receives visions concerning future kingdoms and the coming of an everlasting kingdom, further detailing messianic prophecies.
c. 63 BC— this verse
Zechariah's Prophetic Ministry
Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, is a priest during a time when Jewish hopes for a Messiah are high amidst Roman occupation. He receives divine revelations.

Key themes

01God's ancient promises
02Prophetic word fulfillment
03Divine message through prophets

Cross-references

Genesis 3:15

This is the earliest promise of a coming deliverer, spoken right after the Fall, highlighting how God's prophetic plan began from the very first moment of human history.

Deuteronomy 18:15

Moses prophesied about a prophet like himself whom God would raise up, directly connecting the ongoing prophetic voice to a specific future figure, much like Zechariah is saying.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah powerfully describes the coming King, His names, and the eternal nature of His reign, showcasing the kind of Messianic prophecies that prophets spoke of 'since the world began'.

Acts 3:21

Peter echoes this sentiment, stating that the heavens must hold Jesus until the 'time of universal restoration, that all his holy prophets have spoken of since the world began,' confirming the ancient, unbroken line of prophecy.

Hebrews 1:1

This passage speaks of God speaking 'at various times and in different ways' through the prophets in the past, reinforcing the idea that God's communication through His chosen messengers is a consistent, long-standing theme.

Scholarly commentary

Luke 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…
barnes

Luke 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…
cambridge

Frequently asked questions

What does Luke 1:70 mean?

Explain the meaning of Luke 1:70

What is the context of Luke 1:70?

Study this verse in Sola

Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.

Open in Sola app Get the app

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "prophets" mean in the original Greek?”
“Why did Luke the Evangelist, traditionally understood as a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul. write Luke 1:70?”
“How does god's ancient promises show up in Luke 1:70?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Luke 1:70 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.

What Luke 1:70 means

Historical background

c. 1400 BC

Moses Receives the Law

Moses, a key prophet, receives God's law, which includes prophecies about a future leader like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). This marks an early point in God's communication through prophets.

c. 740 BC

Isaiah's Prophecies

The prophet Isaiah delivers powerful prophecies about a coming king from the line of David, describing his virgin birth and future reign (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7).

c. 605 BC

Daniel's Vision

The prophet Daniel receives visions concerning future kingdoms and the coming of an everlasting kingdom, further detailing messianic prophecies.

c. 63 BC— this verse

Zechariah's Prophetic Ministry

Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, is a priest during a time when Jewish hopes for a Messiah are high amidst Roman occupation. He receives divine revelations.