Luke 1:79
◄  Luke 1:79  ►
New International Version (©2011)
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

New Living Translation (©2007)
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."

English Standard Version (©2001)
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

International Standard Version (©2012)
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

NET Bible (©2006)
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“To enlighten those who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, that he may direct our feet in the path of peace.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death's shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

American King James Version
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

American Standard Version
To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Darby Bible Translation
to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

English Revised Version
To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Webster's Bible Translation
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shades of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Weymouth New Testament
Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."

World English Bible
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Young's Literal Translation
To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:67-80 Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Ro 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 79. - To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. It would seem that for a moment the Hebrew priest saw beyond the narrow horizon of Israel, and that here, in the close of his glorious song, he caught sight of the distant far-reaching isles of the Gentiles, over which so deep a darkness brooded for ages.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

To give light to them that sit in darkness,.... God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and Pharisees,

and, were as it were also,

in the shadow of death; in a state seemingly irrecoverable, when Christ, the great light arose, and shone upon them; and communicated spiritual light, life, and heat unto them; see Isaiah 9:2 compared with Matthew 4:13 though Christ is also a light, to lighten his chosen ones among the Gentiles, Luke 2:32 but the Jews seem chiefly to be intended here:

to guide our feet into the way of peace; which we knew not: not that he came to teach us how to make our peace with God, but to make peace for us, by the blood of his cross; and so by his Spirit and word, lead us into the true way of enjoying spiritual peace here, and eternal peace hereafter.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

79. (Compare Isa 9:2; Mt 4:13-17). "That St. Luke, of all the Evangelists, should have obtained and recorded these inspired utterances of Zacharias and Mary—is in accordance with his character and habits, as indicated in Lu 1:1-4" [Webster and Wilkinson].

Luke 1:79 Parallel Commentaries

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Zechariah's Song
…78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us, 79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.

Psalm 107:10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,
Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
Matthew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Acts 10:36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.