Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron, married to a priest named Zechariah. Luke says they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly. They had no children, and both were old. In that world, being childless was a public shame.
Then she conceived. She hid herself for five months and said the Lord had taken away her reproach. In her sixth month her young relative Mary came to visit, and when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. She blessed Mary and called her the mother of my Lord. When her son was born, the neighbors wanted to name him Zechariah. Elizabeth said no; he shall be called John.
“
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Name means
“My God is an oath” (Hebrew)
Home
A town in the hill country of Judah
Role
Wife of the priest Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist
Read in
Elizabeth's story
A door open to Mary
Beginning
Righteous and childless
Both she and Zechariah are blameless, old, and without children.
Turning point
Hidden away
She conceives and says the Lord has taken away her reproach.
High point
Mary at the door
The baby leaps; she blesses Mary and the child.
High point
Three months together
Mary stays with her until near the birth.
Ending
He shall be called John
Her son is born, and she names him as God said.
Starts as a barren woman carrying an old shame. Ends as the mother of the one who prepared the way.
Where Elizabeth lived and went
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.
Luke places Elizabeth only in an unnamed town in the hill country of Judah.
How Elizabeth is wired
Why there's no type here
Luke gives us one scene of Elizabeth's own words, too little to type her honestly.
Strengths & struggles
What's good in Elizabeth
Righteous and blameless (). Generous joy at another's blessing (). Firm when it mattered ().
Where Elizabeth struggles
Scripture records no failings.
What Elizabeth wanted most
A child, and the shame of being childless taken away ().
Elizabeth was the first person to call Jesus Lord, before he was born.
Filled with the Spirit, she asked why the mother of my Lord should come to her (). Her own son would spend his life pointing past himself to Jesus (). God who removed her reproach would send his Son to bear the shame of all of us ().
Questions to sit with
1
Elizabeth rejoiced at a younger woman's greater blessing. Whose blessing is hard for you to celebrate?
2
She waited into old age. What long waiting are you bringing to God?
Study Elizabeth with your group
Ready-to-lead group studies with discussion questions and a leader's note are on the way.
