Luke 1:15

Strong drink (sikera). A Hebrew word transliterated into Greek, an intoxicating drink. Here only in the N.T. John was to be a personal "dry" or Nazarite ( Numbers 6:3 ). Shall not drink (ou mh pih). Strong prohibition, double negative and second aorist subjunctive. The Holy Ghost (pneumato agiou). The Holy Spirit in contrast to the physical excitement of strong drink (Plummer). Luke uses this phrase 53 times, 12 in the Gospel, Mark and John 4 each, Matthew 5 times. Even from his mother's womb (eti ek koilia mhtro autou). A manifest Hebraism. Cf. verse Numbers 41 .