Luke 1:76

Luke 1:76

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

a. ASV: Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

b. YLT: And thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.

c. Classic Amplified: And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways,

1. “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest…”

a. And [Strong: 2532  kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. thou [Strong: 4771 sý, soo; the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou:—thou.]

c. child [Strong: 3813 paidíon, pahee-dee'-on; neuter diminutive of G3816; a childling (of either sex), i.e. (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian:—(little, young) child, damsel.]

d. [shalt be] called [Strong: 2564 kaléō, kal-eh'-o; akin to the base of G2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):—bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).]

e. [the] prophet [Strong: 4396 prophḗtēs, prof-ay'-tace; from a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:—prophet.]

f. [of the] Highest [Strong: 5310 hýpsistos, hoop'-sis-tos; superlative from the base of G5311; highest, i.e. (masculine singular) the Supreme (God), or (neuter plural) the heavens:—most high, highest.]

2. “...for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;”

a. for [Strong: 1063 gár, gar; a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [thou shalt] go before [Strong: 4313 proporeúomai, prop-or-yoo'-om-ahee; from G4253 and G4198; to precede (as guide or herald):—go before.]

c. [the] face [Strong: 4383 prósōpon, pros'-o-pon; from G4314 and ὤψ ṓps (the visage, from G3700); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person:—(outward) appearance, × before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.]

d. [of the] Lord [Strong: 2962 kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. [to] prepare [Strong: 2090 hetoimázō, het-oy-mad'-zo; from G2092; to prepare:—prepare, provide, make ready.]

f. his [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

g. ways [Strong: 3598 hodós, hod-os'; apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:—journey, (high-)way.]

1). John’s ministry was written in two different Old Testament books, Malachi and Isaiah.

a). Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

b). Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

c). Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

2). Jesus spoke of John’s ministry, that he was the greatest Old Testament prophet because he was the forerunner to the Messiah.

a). Matthew 11:7-11  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

3). A side not that must be noted is, though Jesus said that John was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets because he was the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus went on to say that he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John. A person in the New Covenant has a greater position spiritually than in the Old Covenant.