Bible Strands
Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The angel Gabriel delivers this announcement to Zechariah at the temple altar, directly following Zechariah’s request for a sign and preceding Zechariah’s doubt about his advanced age.
The words — The Greek προελεύσεται (proeleusetai) literally means “will go forth before,” designating a forerunner’s advance. It is coupled with ἐν πνεύματι (en pneumati), meaning “in the spirit,” to specify the divine enablement behind the task.
The thread — This preparatory role mirrors Malachi 4:5, which promises Elijah before the Day of the Lord, and directly parallels Luke 1:76, which assigns the same forerunner function to John. Matthew 11:14 later confirms this identification.
Why it lands — The text states that a divinely empowered forerunner will restore familial loyalty and redirect the disobedient to righteous wisdom. It requires a reader to acknowledge that spiritual readiness depends on this preparatory work rather than human effort.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Cross-references
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
- Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
- Matthew 17:11 Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
- John 1:21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- Mark 9:11 And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- 1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You.
- Psalms 78:8 Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
- John 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
- Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.