Elizabeth
Old and childless, she felt her baby leap for joy when Mary arrived.
New Testament · 1st century BC · Luke · Also known as Elisabeth, Mother of John the Baptist
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, was married to the priest Zechariah. "They were both righteous before God," but they had no child, and both were old. God answered their prayers, and Elizabeth conceived John: "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me… to take away my reproach among men." When her young relative Mary visited, already carrying Jesus, Elizabeth’s baby leapt in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit: "Blessed art thou among women." When her son was born, she insisted on the name God had given: "Not so; but he shall be called John."
The King James Version spells her name Elisabeth. Luke deliberately echoes older stories of childless women blessed by God, like Sarah and Hannah. Elizabeth is called Mary’s "cousin" in the KJV; the Greek word means a relative.
The story
Both righteous before God
Zacharias the priest and his wife Elisabeth, "of the daughters of Aaron," "were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years."
Luke 1:5-7
My reproach taken away
After Zacharias returned from the temple, "his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
Luke 1:23-25
The babe leaped
Mary came and greeted her. "The babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." She cried out, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?… blessed is she that believed." Mary stayed about three months.
Luke 1:39-56
He shall be called John
At the circumcision, the neighbours wanted to name the boy after his father. "And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John." They protested that no relative had that name, until Zacharias wrote, "His name is John."
Luke 1:57-63
Key moments
- Righteous but childless: "Well stricken in years." (Luke 1:6-7)
- Conceives John: "To take away my reproach." (Luke 1:24-25)
- Greets Mary: "Blessed art thou among women." (Luke 1:42)
- Names her son John: "Not so." (Luke 1:60)
Questions about Elizabeth
In meetBible these answers are given in Elizabeth’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
How did you know Mary’s baby was special?
When Mary greeted me, "the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." By the Spirit I called her "the mother of my Lord," though she hadn’t yet told me anything. I said, "as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."
Why did you hide for five months?
Luke says I "hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." It doesn’t say why I hid. Readers suggest privacy, prayer, or waiting until it was plain to all; the text gives only my words of thanks.
Why did you insist on the name John?
The angel had told Zacharias, "thou shalt call his name John." At the circumcision, the neighbours wanted to call him after his father. I said, "Not so; but he shall be called John." When they appealed to Zacharias, he wrote, "His name is John," and at once his voice returned.
Connected people
- Zechariah: Husband
- John the Baptist: Son
- Mary: Relative
- Aaron: Ancestor
- Sarah: Also a mother in old age
Read it yourself
Start with Luke 1.