Luke 1:68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Study Note
Study Note
Zechariah's Benedictus opens with the classic berakah form — 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel' — declaring that God has 'visited and redeemed his people.' The Greek word 'episkeptomai' (visited) carries the sense of a decisive divine intervention in human history, fulfilling covenant promises made to Abraham and David. The past tense ('has visited') used at the birth of John the Baptist reflects the prophetic certainty that what is promised is as good as done. Luke's choice to open the story of Jesus with this Jewish hymn signals continuity with Israel's story while announcing its climactic fulfillment.
Other Translations
Blessedbethe Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
`Blessed <FI>is<Fi> the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,
Cross References
And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he …
And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the …
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God …
And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on …
And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee …
And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among …
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that …
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us …
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes …
And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.