Luke 1 · Verse 78

Luke 1:78

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luke 1:78, King James Version

Luke 1:78 in other translations

BSBbecause of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
WEBbecause of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,
ASVBecause of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
YLTThrough the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,
DARBYon account of the bowels of mercy of our God; wherein the dayspring from on high has visited us,
BBEBecause of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,
WebsterThrough the tender mercy of our God; by which the day-spring from on high hath visited us,

What does Luke 1:78 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 1:68-79

68-79. There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own child; like Elisabeth losing sight entirely of self, in the glory of a Greater than both. Lord God of Israel--the ancient covenant God of the peculiar people. visited and redeemed--that is, in order to redeem: returned after long absence, and broken His long silence (see Mt 15:31). In the Old Testament, God is said to "visit" chiefly for…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 78. Whereby the dayspring, &c. The word dayspring (7) means the morning light, the aurora, the rising of the sun. It is called the dayspring from on high because the light of the gospel shines forth from heaven. God is its author, and through his mercy it shines on men. There is here, doubtless, a reference to Isa 40:1,2; indeed, almost the very words of that place are quoted. Comp. also Rev 22:16.

(6) "tender mercy" or "bowels of the mercy" (7) "dayspring" or "sunrising" or "branch" Isa 11:1, Zech 3:8, 6:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:67-80

Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:67-80 →

Luke 1:78 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διὰdiathroughG1223
σπλάγχναsplagchna[the] affectionsG4698
ἐλέουςeleousof compassionG1656
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἐνeninG1722
οἷςhoiswhichG3739
ἐπισκέψεταιepiskepsetaiwill visitG1980
ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165
ἀνατολὴanatolē[the] SunriseG395
ἐξexfromG1537
ὕψους,hupsouson high,G5311

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:78

  • Malachi 4:2

    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  • 2 Peter 1:19

    We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

  • Numbers 24:17

    I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

  • Ephesians 5:14

    Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

  • Zechariah 6:12

    And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:

  • Colossians 3:12

    Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

  • Zechariah 3:8

    Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

  • Ephesians 2:4-5

    But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  • Philippians 1:8

    For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
tender. or, bowels of the.
Ps 25:6; Isa 63:7,15; Joh 3:16; Eph 2:4,5; Php 1:8; 2:1; Col 3:12
1Jo 3:17; 4:9,10
day-spring. or, sun-rising, or branch.
Nu 24:17; Isa 11:1; Zec 3:8; 6:12; Mal 4:2; Re 22:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:77

    To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

  • Luke 1:78

    Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

  • Luke 1:79

    To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:78 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Por las entrañas de misericordia de nuestro Dios, con que nos visitó de lo alto el Oriente,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
par les entrailles de miséricorde de notre Dieu, selon lesquelles l’Orient d’en haut nous a visités,
German
Elberfelder 1871
durch die herzliche Barmherzigkeit unseres Gottes, in welcher uns besucht hat der Aufgang aus der Höhe,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto: