Luke 1:11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

◄ Luke 1:11 ►

New International Version
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

New Living Translation
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.

English Standard Version
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Berean Standard Bible
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Berean Literal Bible
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of the incense.

King James Bible
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

New King James Version
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

New American Standard Bible
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

NASB 1995
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

NASB 1977
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Legacy Standard Bible
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Amplified Bible
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Christian Standard Bible
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

American Standard Version
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Contemporary English Version
All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar.

English Revised Version
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then, to the right of the incense altar, an angel of the Lord appeared to him.

Good News Translation
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned.

International Standard Version
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar.

Majority Standard Bible
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

NET Bible
An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him.

New Heart English Bible
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Weymouth New Testament
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;

World English Bible
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And there appeared to him a messenger of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of the incense,

Berean Literal Bible
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of the incense.

Young's Literal Translation
And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,

Smith's Literal Translation
And a messenger of the Lord was seen to him, standing from the right of the altar of fumigation.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.

New American Bible
the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.

New Revised Standard Version
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And an Angel of THE LORD JEHOVAH appeared to Zechariah who stood at the right side of the altar of incense.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Godbey New Testament
the angel of the Lord appeared unto him standing on the right hand of the altar of incense:

Haweis New Testament
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Mace New Testament
when there appear'd to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the incense-altar.

Weymouth New Testament
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;

Worrell New Testament
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Worsley New Testament
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right hand of the altar of incense.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Gabriel Foretells John's Birth
…10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. 11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 3:2
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

Judges 6:11-12
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

Daniel 9:21
while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

Daniel 10:5-6
I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

Matthew 28:2-3
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. / His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

Acts 5:19
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

Acts 12:7
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Revelation 1:10-11
On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, / saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Revelation 10:1
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.

Genesis 16:7-11
Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. / “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. / So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” ...

Genesis 22:11
Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

Numbers 22:31
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

1 Kings 19:5
Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

2 Kings 1:15
Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

Zechariah 1:11-12
And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.” / Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”

Treasury of Scripture

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

appeared.

Luke 1:19,28
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings…

Luke 2:10
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Judges 13:3,9
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son…

the altar.

Exodus 30:1-6
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it…

Exodus 37:25-29
And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same…

Exodus 40:26,27
And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: …

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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.

Berean Study Bible

Just then
This phrase indicates a specific moment in time, emphasizing the immediacy and divine timing of the event. In the Greek, the word used here is "kai," often translated as "and" or "then," which connects the narrative seamlessly. The timing is significant, as it underscores God's perfect orchestration in the unfolding of His divine plan. This moment is not random but divinely appointed, reminding us that God's interventions in our lives are timely and purposeful.

an angel of the Lord
The term "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos," meaning "messenger." In the biblical context, angels are divine messengers sent by God to deliver His word or execute His will. The phrase "of the Lord" signifies that this angel is sent directly from God, carrying His authority and message. This appearance is a reminder of the spiritual realm's reality and God's active involvement in human affairs. Angels often appear in Scripture to herald significant events, and their presence signifies the importance of the message they bring.

appeared to him
The Greek word for "appeared" is "ophthē," which means to become visible or to be seen. This indicates a supernatural revelation, as angels are not typically visible to human eyes. The appearance of the angel to Zechariah is a divine revelation, breaking into the ordinary course of his priestly duties. It highlights the intersection of the divine with the mundane, where God reveals His plans to His chosen servants.

standing at the right side
In biblical symbolism, the right side is often associated with favor, power, and authority. The angel's position at the right side of the altar signifies a place of honor and divine authority. This positioning underscores the importance of the message being delivered and the authority with which it is given. It also reflects the cultural understanding of the right side as a place of prominence and strength.

of the altar of incense
The altar of incense was located in the Holy Place of the temple, just before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Incense, in biblical times, symbolized the prayers of the people ascending to God. The altar of incense was a place of intercession and worship, and its mention here highlights the sacredness of the moment. The angel's appearance at this specific location underscores the connection between divine revelation and human prayer, suggesting that God responds to the prayers of His people in powerful and unexpected ways.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) The altar of incense.--The altar stood just in front of the veil that divided the outer sanctuary from the Holy of Holies. It was made of shittim wood, and overlaid with gold, both symbols of incorruption (Exodus 30:1-7; Exodus 40:5; Exodus 40:26). Its position connected it so closely with the innermost sanctuary that the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 9:4; but see Note there) seems to reckon it as belonging to that, and not unto the outer. It symbolised accordingly the closest approach to God which was then possible for any but the high priest, when, in his typical character, he entered the Holy of Holies on the day of Atonement.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord. Critics have especially found grave fault with this "Hebrew" portion of our Gospel, complaining that it needlessly introduces the marvelous, and brings uselessly into everyday life beings from another sphere. Godet well answers these criticisms by observing "that as Christianity was an entirely new beginning in history, the second and final creation of man, it was natural that an interposition on so grand a scale should be accompanied by a series of particular interpositions. It was even necessary; for how were the representatives of the ancient order of things, who had to cooperate in the new work, to be initiated into it, and their attachment won to it, except by this means? According to Scripture, we are surrounded by angels (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7), whom God employs to watch over us; but in our ordinary condition we want the sense necessary to perceive their presence - for that condition a peculiar receptivity is required. This condition was given to Zacharias. Origen ('Contra Censure') writes how, "in a church there are two assemblies - one of angels, the other of men,... angels are present at our prayers, and they pray with us and for us." Standing on the right side of the altar of incense. The angel stood between the altar and the shew-bread table. On entering the holy place, the officiating priest would have on his right the table with the shew-bread, on his left the great candlestick, and before him would be the golden altar, which stood at the end of the holy place, in front of the veil which separated this chamber and the dim, silent holy of holies.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Just then,
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

an angel
ἄγγελος (angelos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

of [the] Lord
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

appeared
Ὤφθη (Ōphthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

to [Zechariah],
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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.

standing
ἑστὼς (hestōs)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

at
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] right side
δεξιῶν (dexiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1188: On the right hand, right hand, right. From dechomai; the right side or hand.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

altar
θυσιαστηρίου (thysiastēriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2379: An altar (for sacrifice). From a derivative of thusia; a place of sacrifice, i.e. An altar.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

incense.
θυμιάματος (thymiamatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2368: Incense. From thumiao; an aroma, i.e. Fragrant powder burnt in religious service; by implication, the burning itself.

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NT Gospels: Luke 1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared (Luke Lu Lk)