Bible Strands
Luke 1:9
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Zechariah serves as a priest during his division’s assigned duty, selected at the precise moment the incense offering begins.
The words — ἔλαχεν (elachen) denotes being selected by lot, while θυμιᾶσαι (thumiasai) specifies the act of burning incense.
The thread — The lot-based selection and priestly incense duty echo the divinely appointed service in 2 Chronicles 29:11 and the daily incense ritual prescribed in Exodus 30:7, alongside the permanent consecration of Aaron’s line in 1 Chronicles 23:13.
Why it lands — The text establishes that priestly service operates through established custom and divine selection, requiring the reader to recognize obedience to prescribed ritual as the framework for approaching God.
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
According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 29:11 Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”
- Exodus 30:7 And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.
- 1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.
- Numbers 16:40 just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
- 1 Samuel 2:28 And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.
- 2 Chronicles 26:16 But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- Hebrews 9:6 When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.
- 1 Chronicles 6:49 But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
- Exodus 37:25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.