Luke 1:5

Authorized King James Version

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
Ἐγένετο
G1096
There was
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
#2
ἐν
G1722
in
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
#3
ταῖς
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#4
ἡμέραις
G2250
the days
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
#5
Ἡρῴδου
G2264
of Herod
heroic; herod, the name of four jewish kings
#6
τοῦ
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#7
βασιλέως
G935
the king
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
#8
τῆς
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#9
Ἰουδαίας
G2449
of Judaea
the judaean land (i.e., judaea), a region of palestine
#10
ἱερεύς
G2409
priest
a priest (literally or figuratively)
#11
τις
G5100
a certain
some or any person or object
#12
ὄνομα
G3686
name
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
#13
Ζαχαρίας
G2197
Zacharias
zacharias (i.e., zechariah), the name of two israelites
#14
ἐκ
G1537
of
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
#15
ἐφημερίας
G2183
the course
diurnality, i.e., (specially) the quotidian rotation or class of the jewish priests' service at the temple, as distributed by families
#16
Ἀβιά
G7
of Abia
abijah, the name of two israelites
#17
καὶ
G2532
and
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
#18
ἡ
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#19
γυνὴ
G1135
wife
a woman; specially, a wife
#20
αὐτῆς
G846
her
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
#21
ἐκ
G1537
of
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
#22
τῶν
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#23
θυγατέρων
G2364
the daughters
a female child, or (by hebraism) descendant (or inhabitant)
#24
Ἀαρών
G2
of Aaron
aaron, the brother of moses
#25
καὶ
G2532
and
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
#26
τὸ
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#27
ὄνομα
G3686
name
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
#28
αὐτῆς
G846
her
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
#29
Ἐλισάβετ
G1665
was Elisabeth
elisabet, an israelitess

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Luke Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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