Luke 1:24

1:24 After some time ¹  his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, ²  and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. ³  She said, ⁴ 

Luke 1:56

1:56 So ⁵  Mary stayed with Elizabeth ⁶  about three months ⁷  and then returned to her home.

Luke 4:25

4:25 But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, ⁸  when the sky ⁹  was shut up three and a half years, and ¹⁰  there was a great famine over all the land.

[1:24]  ¹ tn Grk “After these days.” The phrase refers to a general, unspecified period of time that passes before fulfillment comes.

[1:24]  ² tn Or “Elizabeth conceived.”

[1:24]  ³ sn The text does not state why Elizabeth withdrew into seclusion, nor is the reason entirely clear.

[1:24]  ⁴ tn Grk “she kept herself in seclusion, saying.” The participle λέγουσα (legousa) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[1:56]  ⁵ tn Grk “And.” Here (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.

[1:56]  ⁶ tn Grk “her”; the referent (Elizabeth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:56]  ⁷ sn As is typical with Luke the timing is approximate (about three months), not specific.

[4:25]  ⁹ sn Elijah’s days. Jesus, by discussing Elijah and Elisha, pictures one of the lowest periods in Israel’s history. These examples, along with v. 24, also show that Jesus is making prophetic claims as well as messianic ones. See 1 Kgs 17-18.

[4:25]  ¹⁰ tn Or “the heaven”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. Since the context here refers to a drought (which produced the famine), “sky” is preferable.

[4:25]  ¹¹ tn Grk “as.” The particle ὡς can also function temporally (see BDAG 1105-6 s.v. 8).