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Luke 1:15

“for he will be great before the Lord, and wine and intoxicating drink he will never drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.”

Luke 1:15 · direct translation from the Greek
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The angel announces to Zechariah a son who will bring joyParents and Children

With the Greek beneath

15

Theme · Numbers 6:3

Go to Numbers 6:3

Luke 1:15 says that John will not drink wine or intoxicating drink; Numbers 6:3 commands this of the one who makes a Nazirite vow.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • σίκεραsikeraG4608שֵׁכָרshejarH7941“strong drink”

Naziriteנָזִירnazir

One who made a vow to consecrate himself to YHWH for a time: he did not drink wine or intoxicating drink, did not cut his hair and did not touch the dead; at the end he shaved his head and presented offerings (Numbers 6:1-21). Samson was one from his mother’s womb (Judges 13:5). It has no relation to “Nazarene.”

See it in the glossary

Theme · Judges 13:4

Go to Judges 13:4

Luke 1:15 says that John will not drink wine or intoxicating drink; in Judges 13:4 the angel commands this of Samson’s mother.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • σίκεραsikeraG4608שֵׁכָרshejarH7941“strong drink”

Luke 1:15, word by word

he will beἔσταιestai

be

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “estai” appears
greatμέγαςmegas

greater

Of greater importance or rank than the rest.

Where else “megas” appears
beforeἐνώπιονenōpion

before, in front of

In front of, in the presence of.

Where else “enōpion” appears
the Lordκυρίουkyriou

Lord

The Lord: God, whose name is YHWH; also Jesus.

Where else “kyriou” appears
wineοἶνονoinon

wine

Wine.

Where else “oinon” appears
intoxicating drinkσίκεραsikera

strong drink

Strong drink, an intoxicating drink other than wine.

Where else “sikera” appears
drinkπίῃpiēi

drink

To take water, wine or another liquid by mouth.

Where else “piēi” appears
he will be filledπλησθήσεταιplēsthēsetai

fill

To take up something completely, or be wholly taken up, as by the Spirit.

Where else “plēsthēsetai” appears
with the Holy Spiritπνεύματοςpneumatos

Spirit

God himself at work, giving life and dwelling in believers.

Where else “pneumatos” appears
with the Holy Spiritἁγίουhagiou

Holy Spirit

God's Spirit, who is his own and sets people apart for him.

Where else “hagiou” appears
his mother’sμητρὸςmētros

mother

The woman who gives birth to a child and raises it.

Where else “mētros” appears
wombκοιλίαςkoilias

womb

The place where a mother carries her child before birth.

Where else “koilias” appears

Translation note

Like the Nazirite (Numbers 6:3; Judges 13:4).

The context

14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth;

15 · This verse (above)

16And many of the sons of Israel he will turn to the Lord their God.

Read all of Luke 1

To study Luke 1 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does the angel Gabriel tell Mary about the son she will have, and how does she answer at the end? (vv. 30-38)

  2. 2. What it means

    Why do you think Zechariah was left unable to speak while Mary was not, when both asked the angel a question? (vv. 18-20, 34-38)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Which promise of God is hard for you to believe today, and what small step could you take in trust, like Mary?

How to use it