Chapter

Luke 1:76

ESV And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
NIV And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
NASB And you, child, also will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
CSB And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
NLT 'And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
KJV And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
NKJV “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

What does Luke 1:76 mean?

Zechariah is a priest (Luke 1:5) whose wife, Elizabeth, has just given birth to their son (Luke 1:57). This child was an unexpected miracle and an answer to prayer (Luke 1:11–17). Zechariah is celebrating these events (Luke 1:67–68), as well as the news that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will soon be born (Luke 1:39–45).

The child in question will one day be known as John the Baptist (Luke 3:2–3). He will fulfill a role established in Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah predicted there would be a "voice" calling out to prepare people for the arrival of God (Isaiah 40:3). The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, also noted that someone would come to "prepare" the world for the arrival of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1; 4:6). This is the part which John, Zechariah's son, will play.

The "Most High" to be proclaimed is Jesus (Luke 1:31–33; Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 1:1–3). Jesus' immediate purpose will be to establish the means of salvation from sin (Luke 1:77; John 3:16–17). John's ministry of repentance and baptism (Matthew 3:1–5) will foreshadow the work of Christ (John 1:19–23).
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What is the Gospel?
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