In brief
Elizabeth is the wife of the priest Zechariah. She is one of the daughters of Aaron, and the text says that she and her husband are righteous before God. The couple has no child, because Elizabeth is barren and they are well advanced in years. Yet God gives them a son, John, who will prepare the coming of the Lord. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she welcomes Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a blessing. She is remembered as a faithful woman who sees God’s grace at work in her life.
What does the name Elizabeth mean?
Her name is generally linked to the Hebrew meaning “God is an oath” or “my God is an oath.” The Bible does not explain this name. It does explain the name of her son, however: Elizabeth declares that he will be called John (Luke 1:60).
The story of Elizabeth
A righteous couple without children
Luke 1:5-7In the days of Herod, king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, has as his wife Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Aaron. Both are righteous before God and walk blamelessly in all the commandments of the Lord. They have no child, because Elizabeth is barren, and they are both well advanced in years.
Pregnancy and the favor of the Lord
Luke 1:24-25After the angel’s visit to Zechariah, Elizabeth conceives and hides herself for five months. She says, “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.” She recognizes that it is the Lord who is at work in her life.
The meeting with Mary
Luke 1:39-45Mary, her relative, comes to greet her. As soon as Elizabeth hears the greeting, the baby leaps in her womb, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit. She calls out with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” She recognizes in Mary the mother of her Lord.
The birth and the name of John
Luke 1:57-63The time comes for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bears a son. On the eighth day, they would have called him Zechariah, after his father. His mother answers, “Not so; but he will be called John.” Zechariah confirms it in writing: “His name is John.” Everyone marvels.
What Elizabeth teaches us
- God sees those whom society despises, and he knows how to take away reproach at the time he chooses.
- We can be righteous before God and go through a long wait without an answer.
- Recognizing the grace received from God leads us to bless others rather than envy them.
- The Holy Spirit fills the one who welcomes what God does in others.
Key verses
“They were both righteous before God.” Elizabeth and Zechariah live faithfully, even though their waiting has no answer. This verse shows that hardship is not a punishment.
“Thus has the Lord done to me.” Elizabeth receives her child as a gift from the Lord, not as something she earned, and she says so with gratitude.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth blesses Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” She rejoices in the work of God in another woman.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Elizabeth in the Bible?
Elizabeth was the wife of the priest Zechariah, the mother of John the Baptist and a relative of Mary. Barren and old, she received a son from God. Her story is told in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
What does the name Elizabeth mean?
Her name is generally linked to the Hebrew meaning “God is an oath” or “my God is an oath.” The Bible gives no explanation of it. What it tells is that God kept his promise to her and to her husband.
Where can I find the story of Elizabeth in the Bible?
The story of Elizabeth is found in the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 1. It tells of the announcement of John’s birth, her meeting with Mary (verses 39 to 45) and the birth of her son (verses 57 to 63).