Luke 1:72
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Study Note
Study Note
Zechariah praises God for performing 'the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant' — situating the birth of John and the coming Messiah within the unbroken thread of the Abrahamic covenant. The Greek 'eleos' (mercy) with its Hebrew background in 'hesed' (covenant-faithfulness) signals that what is happening in the Incarnation is not a new departure but the decisive moment of covenant fulfilment. The specific promise recalled is the oath to Abraham (verse 73; Genesis 22:16-17), connecting messianic salvation directly to the Abrahamic foundation of Israel's election. Romans 15:8-9 (Christ becoming a servant of the circumcision 'to confirm the promises made to the fathers') provides Pauline commentary on the same continuity between the Abrahamic covenant and the gospel.
Other Translations
To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;
To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,
To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,
Cross References
Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee …
Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I …
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from …
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one …
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, …
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four …
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, …
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and …