Luke 1:80

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[a] ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:80 in Other Translations

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.

80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 1:80 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:80

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit
That is, John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, grew in stature of body, and increased in wisdom and knowledge, and fortitude in his soul:

and was in the deserts;
or "desert", as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; not in the wilderness of Judea, where he came preaching, but either of Ziph or Maon, which were near to Hebron; see ( 1 Samuel 23:14 1 Samuel 23:24 1 Samuel 23:25 ) ( Joshua 15:54 Joshua 15:55 ) he was not brought up in the schools of the prophets, nor in the academies of the Jews, or at the feet of any of their Rabbins and doctors; that it might appear he was not taught and sent of men, but of God: nor did he dwell in any of the cities, or larger towns, but in deserts; partly that he might be fitted for that gravity and austerity of life, he was to appear in; and that it might be clear he had no knowledge of, nor correspondence with Jesus, whose forerunner he was, and of whom he was to bear testimony, till such time he did it; and in this solitude he remained,

till the day of his showing unto Israel;
either till the time came that he was to appear before, and be examined by the sanhedrim, that judged of persons fitness and qualifications for the priesthood, in order to be admitted to it; which should have been when he was thirty years of age, but that he was designed for other service; or rather therefore till he appeared in his prophetic office, and showed himself to the people of Israel; to whom he came preaching the doctrine of repentance and remission of sins, administering the ordinance of baptism, giving notice of the near approach of the Messiah, and pointing him out unto the people.

Luke 1:80 In-Context

78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 2:40,52

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "in the Spirit"