2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 3 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.
1:18 Zechariah 4 said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? 5 For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” 6
1 sn Elizabeth was barren. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth are regarded by Luke as righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly (v. 6). With this language, reminiscent of various passages in the OT, Luke is probably drawing implicit comparisons to the age and barrenness of such famous OT personalities as Abraham and Sarah (see, e.g., Gen 18:9-15), the mother of Samson (Judg 13:2-5), and Hannah, the mother of Samuel (1 Sam 1:1-20). And, as it was in the case of these OT saints, so it is with Elizabeth: After much anguish and seeking the Lord, she too is going to have a son in her barrenness. In that day it was a great reproach to be childless, for children were a sign of God’s blessing (cf. Gen 1:28; Lev 20:20-21; Pss 127 and 128; Jer 22:30). As the dawn of salvation draws near, however, God will change this elderly couple’s grief into great joy and grant them the one desire time had rendered impossible.
2 tn Grk “were both advanced in days” (an idiom for old age).
3 tn Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”
5 tn Grk “And Zechariah.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6 tn Grk “How will I know this?”
7 tn Grk “is advanced in days” (an idiom for old age).