What is the meaning of Luke 1:57?

When the time came

“When the time came…” (Luke 1:57)

• God’s calendar is precise. Just as He appointed Sarah’s delivery at “the very time God had promised” (Genesis 21:2), He orchestrated Elizabeth’s moment.

• The phrase echoes the larger biblical theme of divine timing—“when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4).

• In the months since Gabriel’s visit, nothing had slipped off schedule. Every day of Elizabeth’s pregnancy unfolded under God’s watchful care, confirming His sovereignty over history and biology.

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for Elizabeth to have her child

“…for Elizabeth to have her child…”

• This line spotlights the personal fulfillment of Gabriel’s earlier word: “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son” (Luke 1:13).

• Elizabeth’s barrenness had been lifelong (Luke 1:7), yet the Lord “remembers” (Luke 1:24-25) and reverses her reproach, just as He “settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children” (Psalm 113:9).

• The emphasis on her name—Elizabeth—underscores God’s intimate involvement with individuals, not merely events.

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she gave birth to a son

“…she gave birth to a son.”

• The simple statement announces a miracle wrapped in everyday language. A healthy baby boy arrives exactly as promised, confirming that “not one word” of God’s promise fails (Joshua 21:45).

• The child’s gender matters: the covenant tradition of sons (Genesis 17:19) and prophecy of a male forerunner (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3) link directly to John’s role: “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

• Birth narratives in Scripture often signal new chapters in redemption history—Moses (Exodus 2:1-10), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20), and now John, whose arrival bridges old covenant expectation and new covenant fulfillment.

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summary

Luke 1:57 records more than a happy family moment; it showcases God’s flawless timing, His faithfulness to individual promises, and His unfolding redemption plan. Elizabeth’s long-awaited son arrives exactly when and how God said he would, underscoring that every promise in Scripture stands firm and literal—still trustworthy for us today.