Luke 1:72-75

1:72 He has done this ¹  to show mercy ²  to our ancestors, ³ 

and to remember his holy covenant ⁴  –

1:73 the oath ⁵  that he swore to our ancestor ⁶  Abraham.

This oath grants ⁷ 

1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our ⁸  enemies,

may serve him without fear, ⁹ 

1:75 in holiness and righteousness ¹⁰  before him for as long as we live. ¹¹ 

[1:72]  ¹ tn The words “He has done this” (referring to the raising up of the horn of salvation from David’s house) are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to allow a new sentence to be started in the translation. The Greek sentence is lengthy and complex at this point, while contemporary English uses much shorter sentences.

[1:72]  ² sn Mercy refers to God’s loyal love (steadfast love) by which he completes his promises. See Luke 1:50.

[1:72]  ³ tn Or “our forefathers”; Grk “our fathers.” This begins with the promise to Abraham (vv. 55, 73), and thus refers to many generations of ancestors.

[1:72]  ⁴ sn The promises of God can be summarized as being found in the one promise (the oath that he swore) to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3).

[1:73]  ⁵ tn This is linked back grammatically by apposition to “covenant” in v. 72, specifying which covenant is meant.

[1:73]  ⁶ tn Or “forefather”; Grk “father.”

[1:73]  ⁷ tn Again for reasons of English style, the infinitival clause “to grant us” has been translated “This oath grants” and made the beginning of a new sentence in the translation.

[1:74]  ⁸ tc Many important early mss (א B L W [0130] Ë^1,13 565 892 pc) lack “our,” while most (A C D [K] Θ Ψ 0177 33 Ï pc) supply it. Although the addition is most likely not authentic, “our” has been included in the translation due to English stylistic requirements.

[1:74]  ⁹ tn This phrase in Greek is actually thrown forward to the front of the verse to give it emphasis.

[1:75]  ¹⁰ sn The phrases that we…might serve him…in holiness and righteousness from Luke 1:74-75 well summarize a basic goal for a believer in the eyes of Luke. Salvation frees us up to serve God without fear through a life full of ethical integrity.

[1:75]  ¹¹ tn Grk “all our days.”