Easy Bible Crafts

Read & explore together

Zechariah's Song

Zechariah’s song praises God for bringing salvation and mercy. It looks back to God’s promises and then speaks directly about the child, who will prepare the Lord’s way and point people towards forgiveness and peace.

Luke 1:67–80Older students and adultsSong and prophecy
A lyre beside an olive tree and a stream, companion artwork for biblical poetry

Understanding the passage

Read these words in context

This passage says Zechariah spoke while filled with the Holy Spirit. His words are both praise and prophecy. The song first blesses the Lord for redeeming his people and remembering his covenant, then describes the child’s future work, and finally adds a brief note about the child’s growth in the desert.

Luke 1:67–80

Main takeaway

Zechariah’s song teaches that God’s promised salvation leads people to serve him and points them towards forgiveness, light and peace.

Explore the poem and its images

Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.

01A song of praise for God’s rescueZechariah begins by blessing the Lord, the God of Israel. He says God has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a “horn of salvation” in David’s house.

Explanation

Zechariah begins by blessing the Lord, the God of Israel. He says God has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a “horn of salvation” in David’s house. In this song, that picture speaks of strong saving help, tied to God’s work for his people.

Luke 1:67Luke 1:68Luke 1:69
02God remembers his promisesThe song connects God’s present action with words spoken through the holy prophets long ago.

Explanation

The song connects God’s present action with words spoken through the holy prophets long ago. Zechariah says this salvation shows mercy, remembers God’s holy covenant and fulfils the oath sworn to Abraham. The purpose includes deliverance from enemies so God’s people may serve him without fear.

Luke 1:70Luke 1:71Luke 1:72Luke 1:73Luke 1:74
03A rescued people serving GodZechariah does not speak only about escape from danger. He says the result is a life of serving God “in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life”.

Explanation

Zechariah does not speak only about escape from danger. He says the result is a life of serving God “in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life”. Salvation in this song is connected with belonging to God and living before him.

Luke 1:74Luke 1:75
04The child’s role in God’s planZechariah then addresses the child directly. The child will be called a prophet of the Most High and will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.

Explanation

Zechariah then addresses the child directly. The child will be called a prophet of the Most High and will go before the Lord to prepare his ways. His work is to give God’s people knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins, flowing from God’s tender mercy.

Luke 1:76Luke 1:77Luke 1:78
05Light, peace and growthThe song ends with beautiful images. The dawn from on high will visit, shine on those in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide feet into the way of peace.

Explanation

The song ends with beautiful images. The dawn from on high will visit, shine on those in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide feet into the way of peace. After the song, Luke adds that the child grew strong in spirit and stayed in the desert until appearing publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:78Luke 1:79Luke 1:80

Questions to explore

Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.

01What does Zechariah praise God for at the start of the song?

Look for the actions named in the opening lines, including how God has visited, redeemed and raised up salvation for his people.

Luke 1:68Luke 1:69
02According to the song, why does God bring this salvation?

Notice the links to mercy, the covenant, the oath to Abraham and the goal that people should serve God without fear.

Luke 1:72Luke 1:73Luke 1:74Luke 1:75
03What will the child do, and what effect will that have on people?

Trace the child’s role from preparing the Lord’s ways to giving knowledge of salvation, forgiveness, light and peace.

Luke 1:76Luke 1:77Luke 1:79

Read the Bible passage

World English Bible Classic

Scripture quotation · Public domain

Luke 1:67–80

67His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;

69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

70(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

72to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

73the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

75in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,

79to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Source passages

Source: Luke 1 ↗
← Explore more Bible passages