1:15a
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reasons why Zechariah and many other people would be happy about John’s birth (1:14). These reasons are given in 1:15–17. The main reason is that John would prepare the way for the Lord. Express these reasons in a natural way in your language.
he will be great in the sight of the Lord: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he will be great in the sight of the Lord is an idiom. It means that God would consider John to be a very important man. God would think highly of him. Some other ways to translate this are:
The Lord will consider him to be very great
-or-
He will be very important in the Lord’s estimation/view
-or-
The Lord will recognize/esteem him as a great man
in the sight of the Lord: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the sight of the Lord is literally “before the Lord.” The phrase “before the Lord” or “before God” is used four other times in Luke 1 (1:17, 1:19, 1:75, 1:76).
Lord: For further discussion of the term Lord, see the Note at 1:6b. See also Lord, Context 2, in the Glossary.
1:15b
He shall never take wine or strong drink: This is a command. John must not drink wine or any other drink that could make him drunk. A requirement like this is described in Numbers 6:1–4. It would be a sign to that person and to others that he was dedicated to the Lord in a special way. In some translations it may be helpful to include a footnote about this. For example:
John was dedicated to the Lord to fulfill a very important purpose. As a sign of that dedication, the Lord commanded that John should not drink wine.
never: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as never means “definitely not.” The angel meant that John must not ever drink these things.
take: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as take is literally “drink.” Most English versions say “drink.”
wine or strong drink: The Jews had two basic terms for alcoholic drinks. The Berean Standard Bible translates these terms as wine and strong drink. In some languages it may be necessary to use one general term for all alcoholic drinks. For example:
all fermented/alcoholic drinks
-or-
any drink that causes someone/people to become drunk
wine: The word wine refers to an alcoholic drink. It is made from the juice of a fruit called grapes. When grape juice ferments, it becomes wine.
In some areas, people may not be familiar with grapes or with wine. If that is true in your area, some other ways to translate wine are:
• Use a specific term for another alcoholic drink made from fruit. For example:
pomegranate wine
-or-
palm wine
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
fermented fruit juice/water
-or-
grape juice
-or-
fermented grape juice
strong drink: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strong drink refers to alcoholic beverages other than wine that the Jews made from either fruit or grain. The most common of these was beer made from barley or from barley and millet.
Some ways to translate this are:
• Use a term for an alcoholic drink made from grain, even if it is not made from barley or millet.
• Use a general term for alcoholic drinks.
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
other drinks that make (people) drunk
1:15c
he will be filled with the Holy Spirit: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as filled with the Holy Spirit is a common figure of speech in the New Testament. It implies that the Holy Spirit would guide or control John and give him the power to do all that God wanted him to do. Some ways to translate this are:
the Holy Spirit will guide/empower him
-or-
he will be full of the Holy Spirit
-or-
the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him (Contemporary English Version)
The verb will be filled is passive. Notice that the examples above do not use passive verbs. Translate the clause in a natural way in your language.
The context indicates that John would be “filled” during his entire life. This figure also occurs in 1:41b and 1:67a, but there the “filling” is momentary.
the Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is divine. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless. Because of these qualities, he is worthy of awe.
Some ways to translate Holy Spirit are:
Spirit/Breath of God
-or-
Holy/Sacred Spirit
Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.
See holy, sense A2, in Key Biblical Terms.
even from his mother’s womb: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as even from his mother’s womb is literally “even from/out-of his mother’s womb/belly.” Scholars interpret the phrase “from his mother’s womb” in one of two ways:
(1) It refers to the time when John was in his mother’s womb. This means before he was born. For example:
while yet in his mother’s womb (New American Standard Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))
(2) It refers to the time when John was born. For example:
From his very birth (Good News Translation)
(New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
English versions that use the phrase “from his mother’s womb” are somewhat ambiguous (New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version). In some languages it may be possible to use a general expression that could be interpreted in either way. If that is true in your language, it is good to use that term. If you must choose one of the interpretations, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
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