Luke 1:58

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives at the moment they learn of her childbirth after years of barrenness.

The words — ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) literally means “heard,” and συγγενεῖς (sungeneis) denotes “relatives” or kinsmen bound by family ties.

The thread — This communal response mirrors the shared joy commanded in Romans 12:15, echoes the kinsman-redeemer theme in Ruth 4:14, and fulfills the promise that God settles the barren woman as a joyful mother in Psalms 113:9.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that divine mercy triggers collective celebration, demanding a response of shared joy rather than isolated gratitude.

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

καὶkaiAnd ἤκουσανēkousanheard οἱhoithe περίοικοιperioikoineighbours καὶkaiand οἱhoithe συγγενεῖςsungeneisrelatives αὐτῆςautēsof her ὅτιhotithat ἐμεγάλυνενemegalunenmagnified κύριοςkurios[the] Lord τὸtothe ἔλεοςeleosmercy αὐτοῦautouof Him μετ᾽met᾽with αὐτῆς,autēsher,καὶkaiand συνέχαιρονsunechaironthey were rejoicing with αὐτῇ.¶autēaher.

King James Version

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Cross-references

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Ruth 4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.
Psalms 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Luke 1:14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
Luke 1:25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Genesis 19:19 Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.
Isaiah 66:9 Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.
Genesis 21:6 Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”