Elizabeth
Mother of John the Baptist
Elizabeth was of Aaron's lineage and married to the priest Zechariah. She was barren until old age, but the angel Gabriel announced that she would give birth to John the Baptist. When Mary visited, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied over Mary.
Famille
Événements clés
Righteous but Childless
Elizabeth and Zechariah were both righteous before God, yet they were childless and advanced in years.
5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ⸀Ἡρῴδου βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά, ⸀καὶ γυνὴ ⸀αὐτῷ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἀαρών, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβετ.
6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ⸀ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι.
7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well advanced in years.
καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον, καθότι ⸂ἦν ἡ Ἐλισάβετ⸃ στεῖρα, καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν.
The Angel's Message
The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple and announced that Elizabeth would give birth to a son named John.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος.
13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος· Μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία, διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου, καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην·
14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ ⸀γενέσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται·
15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.
ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον ⸀τοῦ κυρίου, καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ, καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ,
Mary's Visit
When Mary visited, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb, and she was filled with the Spirit and cried out: 'Blessed are you among women!'
39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα,
40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίου καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν Ἐλισάβετ.
41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν ⸂τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς Μαρίας ἡ Ἐλισάβετ⸃, ἐσκίρτησεν τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίου ἡ Ἐλισάβετ,
42She cried out with a loud voice: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
καὶ ἀνεφώνησεν ⸀κραυγῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ εἶπεν· Εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν, καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου.
43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτο ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου πρὸς ⸀ἐμέ;
44For the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου, ἐσκίρτησεν ⸂ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος⸃ ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου.
45Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord has said to her would be fulfilled."
καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασα ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ κυρίου.
The Birth of John
Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and the neighbors rejoiced with her over God's mercy.
57When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, she bore a son.
Τῇ δὲ Ἐλισάβετ ἐπλήσθη ὁ χρόνος τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν.
58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ περίοικοι καὶ οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ συνέχαιρον αὐτῇ.
The Naming
At the circumcision, relatives wanted to name the child Zechariah, but Elizabeth insisted: 'No, he shall be called John.'
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ⸂ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ⸃ ἦλθον περιτεμεῖν τὸ παιδίον, καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίαν.
60But his mother spoke up: "No! He is to be called John."
καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν· Οὐχί, ἀλλὰ κληθήσεται Ἰωάννης.
63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed.
καὶ αἰτήσας πινακίδιον ἔγραψεν λέγων· Ἰωάννης ⸀ἐστὶν ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐθαύμασαν πάντες.