that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that the salvation Jesus brings is not just about escaping physical enemies, but ultimately from the deeper, spiritual forces that oppose us, like sin and Satan. The "enemies" mentioned are presented in a way that echoes Old Testament language, but Zacharias is framing the ultimate deliverance in spiritual terms that resonate even today.
that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies about the child John and the coming salvation. He sings of God remembering His covenant and the oath sworn to Abraham, which is now being fulfilled through the birth of a Savior. This salvation, a horn of salvation, will deliver God's people from their enemies and enable them to serve Him in holiness.
When Zacharias sang of salvation from 'enemies,' did he just mean Roman soldiers or political oppressors?
The Old Testament language Zacharias uses often had layers of meaning.
Temporal and Spiritual Enemies
While the immediate context might bring to mind literal oppressors like the Romans or rival groups in Judea, the prophets and Zacharias himself were pointing to something deeper.
If we are saved from enemies, what are we saved for?
Salvation isn't just an escape; it's a powerful re-orientation towards God.
A Life of Service
Zacharias makes it clear that the ultimate goal of this deliverance is not merely freedom, but a renewed ability to live for God.
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Understand the original words
sōtēria · Greek Noun
The act of being rescued or delivered from peril, oppression, or ultimate judgment. In a biblical context, it signifies God's active intervention to rescue His people, culminating in the spiritual redemption from sin and death through Christ.
Zechariah's song, spoken as the Jewish people lived under Roman occupation and the rule of the Idumean Herod, vividly contrasts the hope for national liberation with the deeper, spiritual salvation Jesus would bring from sin and death.
c. 175-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt Begins
The Maccabean Revolt against Seleucid rule erupted, leading to a period of conflict and a renewed hope for divine deliverance among Jewish people.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Pompey the Great conquered Judea, bringing it under Roman control and ending the Hasmonean dynasty, intensifying the longing for a divinely appointed king.
c. 40-37 BC
Herodian Dynasty Established
Herod the Great, an Idumean appointed by Rome, became king of Judea, a ruler many Jews resented, fueling the desire for a true king from David's line.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, occurs, fulfilling prophecies and initiating the era of salvation that Zechariah proclaims.
c. AD 1-30
Ministry of John the Baptist
John the Baptist, born shortly before Jesus, prepares the way by calling people to repentance, aligning with the theme of deliverance from enemies, both spiritual and temporal.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God, and his death and resurrection offer the ultimate salvation from sin and death, the most profound enemies.
c. AD 60s— this verse
Luke Writes His Gospel
Luke composes his Gospel, likely in Rome or Achaia, documenting the life and teachings of Jesus and including Zechariah's prophetic song about the Messiah's redemptive work.
This Psalm describes God saving His people from their enemies, echoing the same theme of deliverance from those who hate them.
Isaiah 45:17This prophetic declaration promises future salvation for Israel, directly stating they will be saved 'with an everlasting salvation' and not put to shame, much like the deliverance spoken of in Luke.
Micah 7:16-17This passage vividly portrays nations being astonished by God's power as He saves His people, showing the awe-inspiring nature of this deliverance from enemies.
1 Samuel 2:1-2Hannah's prayer of praise to God for delivering her and giving her a son has similar themes of rejoicing in God's strength and salvation from adversaries.
Romans 8:37This New Testament passage broadens the concept of victory, stating that in Christ, believers are more than conquerors over all the forces that might oppose them, including spiritual enemies.
cambridgeLuke 1:71: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;"
71 . That we should be saved ] Rather, Salvation —referring back to “a horn of salvation,” to which it is in apposition. The previous verse is a parenthesis. from our enemies ] No doubt in the first instance the “enemies” from which the prophets had promised deliverance were literal enemies ( Deuteronomy 33:29 ; Isaiah 14:2 ; Isaiah 51:22-23 , &c.), but every pious Jew would understand these words as a…
bensonLuke 1:71: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;"
Luke 1:71-75 . That we should be saved from our enemies — Spiritual as well as temporal, invisible as well as visible; and from the hand of all that hate us — From Satan and his angels, and all adverse power, and especially from our sins. This certainly was the mind of the Spirit that now inspired Zacharias, as appears by the whole tenor of Scripture; but whether he fully understood his own words is im…
This verse highlights that the salvation Jesus brings is not just about escaping physical enemies, but ultimately from the deeper, spiritual forces that oppose us, like sin and Satan. The "enemies" mentioned are presented in a way that echoes Old Testament language, but Zacharias is framing the ultimate deliverance in spiritual terms that resonate even today.
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies about the child John and the coming salvation. He sings of God remembering His covenant and the oath sworn to Abraham, which is now being fulfilled through the birth of a Savior. This salvation, a horn of salvation, will deliver God's people from their enemies and enable them to serve Him in holiness.
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies about the child John and the coming salvation. He sings of God remembering His covenant and the oath sworn to Abraham, which is now being fulfilled through the birth of a Savior. This salvation, a horn of salvation, will deliver God's people from their enemies and enable them to serve Him in holiness.
"that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;" — This verse highlights that the salvation Jesus brings is not just about escaping physical enemies, but ultimately from the deeper, spiritual forces that oppose us, like sin and Satan. The "enemies" m…
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Last reviewed October 2026