Humility: Elizabeth
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Elizabeth, a prominent figure in the New Testament, is a profound example of humility. She is introduced in the Gospel of Luke as the wife of Zechariah, a priest, and a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Elizabeth's account is primarily found in Luke 1, where her character and actions reflect a deep sense of humility and faithfulness to God.

Elizabeth is described as "righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord" (Luke 1:6). Despite her righteousness, Elizabeth faced the societal stigma of being childless, as she and Zechariah were advanced in years and had no children. In the cultural context of the time, barrenness was often viewed as a reproach or a sign of divine disfavor. Yet, Elizabeth bore this burden with grace and humility, continuing to live a life of obedience and devotion to God.

The turning point in Elizabeth's life comes when the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, announcing that Elizabeth will bear a son, John, who will be great in the sight of the Lord and prepare the way for the Messiah (Luke 1:13-17). Elizabeth's response to this miraculous event is one of gratitude and humility. When she conceives, she acknowledges God's favor, saying, "The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people" (Luke 1:25).

Elizabeth's humility is further exemplified in her interaction with Mary. When Mary visits her, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaims, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:42-43). Despite her own miraculous pregnancy, Elizabeth recognizes the greater significance of Mary's child and humbly acknowledges her own unworthiness in the presence of the mother of the Messiah.

Elizabeth's humility is also evident in her support and encouragement of Mary. She blesses Mary for her faith, saying, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled" (Luke 1:45). Elizabeth's words and actions demonstrate a selfless spirit, focused not on her own miraculous experience but on the unfolding of God's greater plan through Mary and her child.

In summary, Elizabeth's life is a testament to humility, characterized by her righteous living, acceptance of God's will, and recognition of the greater work of God beyond her own circumstances. Her account serves as an enduring example of how humility can coexist with faith and obedience, even in the face of personal trials and societal challenges.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Luke 1:43
And what is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Princess Elizabeth.
... Princess Elizabeth. Princess of the Rhine, born in the year 1620. ... The following account
of her is taken from his works:". "The meekness and humility of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/princess elizabeth.htm

His Childhood and Youth.
... of the earthly history of Christ, that singular combination of humility and grandeur ...
hymns of Zacharias and Mary; the holy exultation of Elizabeth, Hannah, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/his childhood and youth.htm

On the Feast of the Nativity, I.
... with His savage foe not in His own majesty but in our humility, opposing him ... also
by the attestation of a precursory miracle, and Elizabeth receives unexpected ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon xxi on the feast.htm

The visitation
... Lord, but also the handmaid of the Lord, and she kept His secret in all humility. ...
of a great desire to pay an immediate visit to her cousin Elizabeth at Juttah ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ix the visitation.htm

Letter viii. --On Dryness and Distractions.
... To Sister Jeanne-Elizabeth Gaury (1735). ... esteem, presumption and secret self-confidence
which would never otherwise allow you to acquire true humility of heart ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter viii on dryness and distractions.htm

On the Nativity of John the Baptist the First Sermon
... This heap represents a collection of holy virtues, such as humility, meekness, and
many other ... He was to be born of Elizabeth; which means that there would be a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon x on the nativity.htm

Christ's Birth
... came near, he threw himself down on his face in devout joy and humility. ... the Temple,
and the Blessed Virgin's mother, Anna, in Nazareth, and Elizabeth in Juttah ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xi christs birth.htm

The Same Subject Continued.
... Mary sings the praises of humility and proclaims it the virtue beloved of God,"the
virtue ... Elizabeth, on beholding her cousin, felt her infant leap for joy. ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter viii the same subject.htm

The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family
... I saw a coverlet of the kind that was in Elizabeth's house when John was born ... that
she was to bear her child in Bethlehem, but had been silent out of humility. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/x the census and the.htm

The Key-Note of a Choice Sonnet
... Amongst other choice words, Elizabeth said to her, "Blessed is she that believed:
for ... Her humility is apparent, and in the text it seems to ask the question ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/the key-note of a choice.htm

Resources
What was the significance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about conceit / being conceited? | GotQuestions.org

Who was John the Apostle in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Humility: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Humility

Humility is Before Honor

Humility: A Characteristic of Saints

Humility: Abraham

Humility: Afflictions Intended to Produce

Humility: Ahab

Humility: Blessedness of

Humility: Centurion

Humility: Christ an Example of

Humility: Cornelius

Humility: David

Humility: Elihu

Humility: Elisabeth

Humility: Elizabeth

Humility: Excellency of

Humility: Exemplified

Humility: General Scriptures Concerning

Humility: Gideon

Humility: Hezekiah

Humility: Isaiah

Humility: Jacob

Humility: Jeremiah

Humility: Job

Humility: John

Humility: John the Baptist

Humility: Joseph

Humility: Joshua

Humility: Josiah

Humility: Leads to Riches, Honor, and Life

Humility: Manasseh

Humility: Mephibosheth

Humility: Moses

Humility: Necessary to the Service of God

Humility: Paul

Humility: Peter

Humility: Saints should be Clothed With

Humility: Saints should Beware of False

Humility: Saints should Put On

Humility: Saints should Walk With

Humility: Temporal Judgments Averted By

Humility: The Who Have are Greatest in Christ's Kingdom

Humility: The Who Have: Delivered by God

Humility: The Who Have: Enjoy the Presence of God

Humility: The Who Have: Exalted by God

Humility: The Who Have: Heard by God

Humility: The Who Have: Lifted up by God

Humility: The Who Have: Receive More Grace

Humility: The Who Have: Regarded by God

Humility: The Who Have: Upheld by Honor

Humility: Want of, Condemned

Humility: Woman of Canaan

The Humility of Christ: Declared by Himself

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Associating With the Despised

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Becoming a Servant

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Birth

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Death

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Entry Into Jerusalem

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Exposing Himself to Reproach and Contempt

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Obedience

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Partaking of Our Infirmities

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Poverty

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Refusing Honors

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Station in Life

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Subjection to his Parents

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Submitting to Ordinances

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Submitting to Sufferings

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Taking Our Nature

The Humility of Christ: Exhibited in His: Washing his Disciples' Feet

The Humility of Christ: His Exaltation, the Result of

The Humility of Christ: On Account of, he Was Despised

The Humility of Christ: Saints should Imitate

Related Terms

Gentleness (17 Occurrences)

Feet (2931 Occurrences)

Washing (56 Occurrences)

Voluntary (17 Occurrences)

Down (12601 Occurrences)

Meekness (14 Occurrences)

Gentle (48 Occurrences)

Showing (41 Occurrences)

Patience (59 Occurrences)

Proud (96 Occurrences)

Humility (20 Occurrences)

False (303 Occurrences)

Simon (75 Occurrences)

Ones (687 Occurrences)

Handmaid (77 Occurrences)

Younger (39 Occurrences)

Victoriously (1 Occurrence)

Vain-glory (3 Occurrences)

Vainly (4 Occurrences)

Know (8133 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Natures (12 Occurrences)

Neglecting (6 Occurrences)

Upholdeth (8 Occurrences)

Unspiritual (6 Occurrences)

Urge (34 Occurrences)

Opposed (23 Occurrences)

Overflowing (54 Occurrences)

Opposes (7 Occurrences)

Jude (4 Occurrences)

Lowly (29 Occurrences)

Galilee (73 Occurrences)

Gird (44 Occurrences)

Worshipping (49 Occurrences)

Will-worship (1 Occurrence)

Implanted (3 Occurrences)

Idle (33 Occurrences)

Indulgence (3 Occurrences)

Filth (21 Occurrences)

Filthiness (16 Occurrences)

Feeling (59 Occurrences)

Foot (193 Occurrences)

Fleshly (15 Occurrences)

Factiousness (1 Occurrence)

Teaches (24 Occurrences)

Trials (11 Occurrences)

Treatment (6 Occurrences)

Temptations (9 Occurrences)

Timid (8 Occurrences)

Tolerance (2 Occurrences)

Tested (80 Occurrences)

Resist (23 Occurrences)

Resists (4 Occurrences)

Rob (27 Occurrences)

Restraining (9 Occurrences)

Rigor (8 Occurrences)

Resisteth (3 Occurrences)

Rivalry (8 Occurrences)

Exists (18 Occurrences)

Downwards (2 Occurrences)

Devotion (17 Occurrences)

Dog (19 Occurrences)

Detail (19 Occurrences)

Disqualify (1 Occurrence)

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Decrees (131 Occurrences)

Moral (5 Occurrences)

Modesty (4 Occurrences)

Malign (6 Occurrences)

Prostration

Puffed (13 Occurrences)

Promoting (2 Occurrences)

Prayers (99 Occurrences)

Plotting (13 Occurrences)

Predestination

Plots (20 Occurrences)

Prostrate (25 Occurrences)

Prize (13 Occurrences)

Humility: Elisabeth
Top of Page
Top of Page