Luke 1:72

Luk 1:72. Ποιῆσαι) [to perform] by performing.—ἔλεος, the mercy) Mercy and remembrance of the covenant is the same as חסד ואמת, grace and truth.—μετὰ, with[19]) The antithetic word is ἐξ, from [our enemies], Luk 1:71.—τῶν πατέρων, our fathers) long since deceased:[20] ch. Luk 20:37-38.—μνησθῆναι, [to remember] by remembering) An allusion to the name Zacharias.[21]

[19] But Engl. Vers. “promised to.” Rather, as Luk 1:58, μετʼ αὐτῆς; “to perform mercy in His dealings with our fathers.”—ED. and TRANSL.

[20] And yet still He is their God: therefore the covenant still holds good.—ED. and TRANSL.

[21] Which in Hebrew means one whom the Lord remembers, from זָכַי, to remember.—ED. and TRANSL.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 1:72 . ποιῆσαι : in effect epexegetical of salvation, though formally indicating the aim of the salvation. μετὰ τ . π ., as in Luk 1:58 , to make mercy with, for to show mercy to. ἁγίας , holy, applied to another of Israel’s sacred inheritances: the covenant .

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Declared indeed that he was mindful.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

the mercy promised . . . his holy covenant . . .

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 72. His holy covenant] See Clarke on Lu 1:54.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(72) To perform the mercy.—The verse has been thought, and with apparent reason, to contain a reference, after the manner of the ancient prophets (comp. Isa_8:3; Mic_1:10-15), to the name of the speaker, of his wife, and of his child. In “performing mercy,” we find an allusion to John or Jochanan (= “The Lord be merciful”); in “remembering His holy covenant,” to the name Zacharias (= “Whom Jehovah remembers”); in the “oath” of Luk_1:73, to that of Elizabeth or Elisheba (= “The oath of my God”). The play upon the words would, of course, be obvious in the original Hebrew (i.e., Aramaic) of the hymn, which we have only in its Greek version.

His holy covenant.—The covenant is clearly that made with Abraham in Gen_15:18. In thus going back to that as the starting-point of the New Covenant which was to be made in Christ, Zacharias anticipates the teaching of St. Paul in Gal_3:15-19.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers] It is simply to do mercy towards our fathers. The “promised” is a needless addition of the E.V.

72, 73. mercy … remember … oath] These three words have been thought by some to be an allusion to the three names John (‘Jehovah’s mercy’); Zacharias (‘remembered by Jehovah’), and Elizabeth (see p. 45). Such paronomasiae, or plays on words, are exceedingly common in the Bible. For similar possible instances of latent paronomasiae see the author’s Life of Christ, i. 65; ii. 200, 240.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,.... By "mercy" is meant salvation by Christ, which springs from the mercy of God; the promise of which was an instance of mercy to the Jewish fathers under the Old Testament, and also the performance of it; for they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus, even as we: his blood was shed for the remission of sins that were past, and for the redemption of transgressions under the first Testament:

and to remember his holy covenant; which was made between him, and his Son from all eternity; and was, at various times, dispensed and manifested to the patriarchs, and eminent saints, as Adam, Noah, Abraham, &c. This is called an "holy" one; not only because it was made by, and between holy persons, and provided for the holiness of the people of God, both here, and hereafter; but because in the article of redemption and salvation by Christ, which is here more particularly regarded, care was taken to secure the glory of God's holiness and justice, as well as to display his grace and mercy. Now raising up, and sending Jesus a Saviour, showed, that God was mindful of this covenant, and therefore sent redemption to his people.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

Ver. 72. To perform the mercy] God’s love moves him to promise, his truth binds him to perform. See both these, 2Sa 7:18; 2Sa 7:21 "For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart (that is, ex mero motu), hast thou done all these things."

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To perform the mercy - To show the mercy promised. The expression in the “original” is, “To make mercy with our fathers” - that is, to show kindness to our fathers; and the propriety of it is founded on the fact that mercy to “children” is regarded as kindness to the “parent.” Blessing the “children” was blessing the “nation;” was fulfilling the promises made to the fathers, and “showing” that he regarded them in mercy.

His holy covenant - The word “covenant” means compact or agreement. This is in use among people. It implies equality in the parties; freedom from constraint; freedom from previous obligation to do the thing now covenanted; and freedom from obligation to enter into a compact, unless a man chooses so to do. Such a transaction evidently can never take place between man and God, for they are not equal. Man is not at liberty to “decline” what God proposes, and he is under obligation to do “all” that God commands. When the word “covenant,” therefore, is used in the Bible, it means sometimes a “command;” Sometimes a “promise;” sometimes a “regular law” - as “the covenant of the day and night;” and sometimes the way in which God dispenses mercy - that is, by the old and new covenants. In the place before us it means “the promise” made to Abraham, as the following verses clearly show.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

To remember his holy covenant, i.e. of his promise, or of the covenant made with Abraham, that he would bless all nations in his seed. (Witham) --- At the coming of Christ, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were made partakers of his mercy. For, we cannot suppose that they who saw his day, and were glad, should not participate in the fruit of his coming; since St. Paul says: he maketh peace through the blood of the cross, both to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven. (Colossians i. 20.) (Origen, hom. x.)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

72. To perform the mercy—This phrase depends upon hath raised up a horn, Luk_1:69. God hath raised up a Messiah in order to bring about these results. The oath is in apposition with covenant, and is the object of remember.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

to show mercy to

"to be merciful to" or "to act according to his mercy toward"

remember

Here the word "remember" means to keep a commitment or fulfill something.

his holy covenant, the oath that he spoke

These two phrases refer to the same thing. They are repeated to show the seriousness of God's promise to Abraham. (See: Parallelism)

to grant to us

"to make it possible for us"

that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear

This can be stated in active form. AT: "that we would serve him without fear after he rescued us from the hand of our enemies" (See: Active or Passive)

out of the hand of our enemies

Here "hand" refers to the control or power a person. This could be stated clearly. AT: "from the control of our enemies" (See: Metonymy)

without fear

This refers back to the fear of their enemies. AT: "without being afraid of our enemies" (See: Ellipsis)

in holiness and righteousness

This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "holiness" and "righteousness." Possible meanings are 1) we would serve God in holy and righteous ways. AT: "doing what is holy and righteous" or 2) we would be holy and righteous. AT: "being holy and righteous" (See: Abstract Nouns)

before him

This is an idiom which means "in his presence" (See: Idiom)

translationWords

mercy

ancestor

holy

covenant

oath

Abraham

deliver

servant

righteous

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

72, 73. ἔλεος … μνησθῆναι … ὅρκον. These three words have been thought by some to be an allusion to the three names John (‘Jehovah’s mercy’), Zacharias (‘remembered by Jehovah’), and Elizabeth (see p. 88). Such plays on words, are exceedingly common in the Bible. For similar possible instances of latent paranomasiae see the author’s Life of Christ, I. 65; II. 200, 240.

72. ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν. ‘To do mercy towards (lit. ‘with’) our fathers.’ The “promised” is a needless addition of the A. V[43]

[43] A. V. Authorised Version.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

72. ποιῆσαι …] For a similar use of the infinitive, see ver. 54. We may take it here either as of the purpose, “to perform …,” which is recommended by the ὅρκον ὃν κ. τ. λ., below,—or with Euthym., Bleek, ., as epexegetic, and equivalent to ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαι, or in English to a participial clause, ‘performing,’ &c.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

72. ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετά, κ.τ.λ. This is the purpose of ἤγειρεν κέρας. The phrase is freq. in LXX (Gen 24:12; Jdg 1:24, Jdg 1:8:35; Rth 1:8; 1Sa 20:8, etc.). Comp. μετʼ αὐτῆς, ver. 58. “In delivering us God purposed to deal mercifully with our fathers.” This seems to imply that the fathers are conscious of what takes place: comp. vv. 54, 55. Besides the passages given in the table, comp. Lev 26:42, and see Wsctt. on Heb 9:15, Heb 9:16.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.