Luke 1:17

¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
KJV: And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
WEB: He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
ASV: And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared [for him].
DARBY: And *he* shall go before him in [the] spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to [the] thoughts of just [men], to make ready for [the] Lord a prepared people.
BLB: And he will go on before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

ÅB: og han skal gå i forveien for ham i Elias' ånd og kraft, for å vende fedres hjerter til barn og ulydige til rettferdiges sinnelag, for å berede Herren et velskikket folk.
OTB: Og han skal gå foran ham i Elias' ånd og kraft, for å vende fedrenes hjerter til barna og de ulydige til de rettferdiges visdom, for å gjøre et folk rede for Herren.”
B1930: og han skal gå i forveien for ham i Elias' ånd og kraft, for å vende fedres hjerter til barn og ulydige til rettferdiges sinnelag, for å berede Herren et velskikket folk.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Malachi 4:5–6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
Read in context
Matthew 11:14
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Read in context
Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
Read in context
John 1:21–30
“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
Read in context
Matthew 17:11–12
Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
Read in context
Mark 9:11–13
And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Read in context
1 Chronicles 29:18
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You.
Read in context
Psalms 78:8
Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Read in context