Luke 1:17
New International Version
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

New Living Translation
He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

English Standard Version
and 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 make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

Berean Literal Bible
And he will go forth 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."

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He will also 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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

New American Standard Bible
And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF FATHERS BACK TO THEIR CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

NASB 1995
“It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

NASB 1977
“And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Amplified Bible
It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

Christian Standard Bible
And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents' attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God's approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord."

Good News Translation
He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him."

International Standard Version
He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord."

Majority Standard Bible
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.”

NET Bible
And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

New Heart English Bible
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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he shall 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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."

World English Bible
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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he will go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the LORD, a people prepared.”

Berean Literal Bible
And he will go forth 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."

Young's Literal Translation
and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he shall come before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the intelligence of the just; to prepare a people having been put in order for the Lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”

New American Bible
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

New Revised Standard Version
With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he will go before them with the spirit and the power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and those who are disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous; and he will prepare a true people for the Lord.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And he will go before him in the spirit and in the power of Elijah The Prophet to turn the heart of The fathers to the children and those who do not have faith to the knowledge of The Just One and he will prepare a perfect people for THE LORD JEHOVAH.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient, by the wisdom of the just, in order to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

Godbey New Testament
And 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 unto the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.

Haweis New Testament
And he shall go forth before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to convert the hearts of fathers with their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people ready for the Lord.

Mace New Testament
and he shall march before him, in the spirit and power of Elias, to reconcile parents and children together, and the unruly to the practice of justice, that the people may be duly dispos'd to receive the Lord.

Weymouth New Testament
and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."

Worrell New Testament
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

Worsley New Testament
And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gabriel Foretells John's Birth
16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. 17And 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.”…

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. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Matthew 11:14
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Matthew 17:10-13
The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” / Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. / But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” ...

Mark 9:11-13
And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” / He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? / But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

Matthew 3:3
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Matthew 11:10
This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

John 1:21
“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Matthew 3:1-2
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea / and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Mark 1:2-3
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” / “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

John 3:28
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

Acts 13:24
Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Matthew 14:2
and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”


Treasury of Scripture

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.

before.

Luke 1:16
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

John 1:13,23-30,34
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God…

John 3:28
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

in.

Malachi 4:5,6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: …

Matthew 11:14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Matthew 17:11,12
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things…

power.

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1 Kings 18:18
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

1 Kings 21:20
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

Elijah.

Matthew 3:4,7-12
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey…

Matthew 14:4
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

turn.

Luke 3:7-14
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? …

Malachi 4:6
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. THE END OF THE PROPHETS.

and the.

Isaiah 29:24
They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Jump to Previous
Attitude Cause Children Disobedient Elias Elijah Face Fathers Forerunner Hearts Ones Perfectly Power Prepared Ready Rebellious Righteous Righteousness Spirit Thoughts Turn Upright Walk Way Wisdom Wrongdoers
Jump to Next
Attitude Cause Children Disobedient Elias Elijah Face Fathers Forerunner Hearts Ones Perfectly Power Prepared Ready Rebellious Righteous Righteousness Spirit Thoughts Turn Upright Walk Way Wisdom Wrongdoers
Luke 1
1. The preface of Luke to his whole gospel.
5. The conception of John the Baptist;
26. and of Jesus.
39. The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus.
57. The nativity and circumcision of John.
67. The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus,
76. and of John.














He will go on before the Lord
This phrase indicates the prophetic mission of John the Baptist, who is to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The Greek word for "go on before" is "proeleusetai," which implies a forerunner or one who precedes another. Historically, this reflects the role of a herald in ancient times, who would announce the coming of a king. John’s mission is divinely ordained, emphasizing the sovereignty of God in orchestrating the events leading to the Messiah's arrival.

in the spirit and power of Elijah
The reference to "Elijah" is significant, as Elijah was a major prophet known for his boldness and miraculous deeds. The Greek word "pneuma" (spirit) and "dynamis" (power) suggest that John will embody the same fervor and divine empowerment as Elijah. This connection fulfills the prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6, where Elijah is promised to return before the "great and dreadful day of the Lord." John's ministry, therefore, is not just a continuation of Elijah's work but a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, bridging the Old and New Covenants.

to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children
This phrase echoes Malachi 4:6 and speaks to the restoration of familial relationships and societal harmony. The Greek word "epistrephō" (to turn) implies a conversion or a significant change of direction. In a spiritual sense, this turning is a call to repentance and reconciliation, both within families and between humanity and God. It highlights the transformative power of John's message, which prepares people to receive Christ by first restoring love and unity in their immediate relationships.

and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous
Here, "disobedient" translates from the Greek "apeithēs," meaning those who are unpersuaded or rebellious. The "wisdom of the righteous" refers to a godly understanding and way of life. The phrase suggests a moral and spiritual awakening, where those who have strayed from God's commandments are brought back to a path of righteousness. This transformation is essential for preparing a people ready to accept the teachings of Jesus, who embodies divine wisdom.

to make ready a people prepared for the Lord
The Greek word "hetoimazō" (to make ready) indicates preparation and readiness. John's role is to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for the coming of Jesus. This preparation involves repentance, spiritual renewal, and a return to God's ways. The phrase underscores the necessity of readiness to receive the Lord, emphasizing that spiritual preparation is crucial for recognizing and accepting the Messiah. John's ministry sets the stage for Jesus' transformative work, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history.

(17) To the wisdom of the just.--The margin, by the wisdom, is undoubtedly the right rendering.

Verse 17. - In the spirit and power of Elias. There was a confident hope among the Jews, dating frown the days of the prophecy of Malachi, some four hundred years before the vision of Zacharias, that the days of Messiah would be heralded by an appearance of the Prophet Elijah. The selfsame expectation is still cherished by every pious Jew. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. The usual explanation of these words of the angel, who uses here the language of Malachi (Malachi 4:5, 6), is that the result of the preaching of this new prophet, who is about to be raised up, will be to restore harmony to the broken and disturbed family life of Israel, whereas now the home life of the chosen race was split up - the fathers, perhaps, siding with the foreign or Roman faction, as represented by Herod and his friends; the sons, on the other hand, being Zealots attached to the national party, bitterly hostile to the Herodians. So also in one house some would belong to the Pharisee, others to the Sadducee, sect. These fatal divisions would, in many cases, be healed by the influence of the coming one. There is, however, another interpretation far deeper and more satisfactory; for nothing in the preaching of the Baptist, as far as we are aware, bore specially on the domestic dissensions of the people; it had a much wider range. The true sense of the angel's words here should be gathered from prophetic passages such as Isaiah 29:22, 23, "Jacob shall no more be ashamed, neither shall his face wax pale, when he seeth (בִרְאֹתו כִּי) his children become the work of my hands;" Isaiah 63:16, "Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer!" -The patriarchs, the fathers of Israel, beholding from their abodes of rest the works and days of their degenerate children, mourned over their fall, and, to use earthly language, "were ashamed" of the conduct of their unworthy descendants. These would be glad and rejoice over the result of the preaching of the coming prophet. Godct well sums up the angel's words: "It will be John's mission then to reconstitute the moral unity of the people by restoring the broken relation between the patriarchs and their degenerate descendants."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he
αὐτὸς (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

will go on
προελεύσεται (proeleusetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4281: To go forward, go on, advance; I go before, precede. From pro and erchomai; to go onward, precede.

before
ἐνώπιον (enōpion)
Preposition
Strong's 1799: Neuter of a compound of en and a derivative of optanomai; in the face of.

[the Lord]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] spirit
πνεύματι (pneumati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

power
δυνάμει (dynamei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

of Elijah,
Ἠλίου (Ēliou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2243: Elijah, the prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Helias, an Israelite.

to turn
ἐπιστρέψαι (epistrepsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1994: From epi and strepho; to revert.

[the] hearts
καρδίας (kardias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

of [the] fathers
πατέρων (paterōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

to
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[their] children,
τέκνα (tekna)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5043: A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the] disobedient
ἀπειθεῖς (apeitheis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 545: Unbelieving, disobedient, who will not be persuaded. Unpersuadable, i.e. Contumacious.

to
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] wisdom
φρονήσει (phronēsei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5428: From phroneo; mental action or activity, i.e. Intellectual or moral insight.

of [the] righteous—
δικαίων (dikaiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1342: From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.

to make ready
ἑτοιμάσαι (hetoimasai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2090: To make ready, prepare. From hetoimos; to prepare.

a people
λαὸν (laon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

prepared
κατεσκευασμένον (kateskeuasmenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2680: From kata and a derivative of skeuos; to prepare thoroughly; by implication, to construct, create.

for [the] Lord.”
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.


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NT Gospels: Luke 1:17 He will go before him (Luke Lu Lk)
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