Luke 1:9

Translations

Modern

…he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Traditional

According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

Literal

…according to the custom of the priesthood, that it fell to him by lot to burn incense, having entered into the temple of the Lord.

Latin

…secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini:

Original

Greek

English

…he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Notes

Luke 1:8–9

Zechariah's division was on duty … he was chosen by lot: It was common in Old Testament times to cast lots (similar to throwing dice) to determine God’s will (1 Chronicles 26:13–16; Nehemiah 11:1; Proverbs 16:33; Jonah 1:7). There were 24 orders of priests that took turns serving in the temple (1 Chronicles 24:1–19). They cast lots to choose which priest would serve in the sanctuary of the temple. There were many priests, so this honor might come only once in a priest's life. The angel appeared at the most holy moment of Zechariah's life.
to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense: Luke uses the Greek word naos to refer to the temple building. He did mean the whole temple complex (hieron), which he refers to as "the temple courts" (Luke 2:27). The temple complex included the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (see Hebrews 9:1–5). The priests burned incense twice a day in the Holy Place.

Theme notes and profiles

John the Baptist Sarah Angels Infertility The Blessings of Jesus Visions

Events

John's birth predictedc. 6 BC

Related verses

2 Chronicles 29:11
Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”
Exodus 30:7–8
And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.
1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.
Numbers 16:40
…just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
1 Samuel 2:28
And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.
2 Chronicles 26:16
But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
Hebrews 9:6
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.
1 Chronicles 6:49
But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Exodus 37:25–29
He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of the Acts of the Apostles Gospel John the Baptist Luke, Gospel of Virgin Birth of Jesus Zacharias Zechariah (Person)

Topics

Barrenness: Miraculously Removed: Elisabeth Elisabeth (Elizabeth): The Wife of Zacharias and the Mother of John the Baptist Incense: Offering of, Allotted to the Priests Joy of Elisabeth, when Mary Visited Her Offerings: Different Kinds of Incense Priest: The Time of Moses: Chosen by Lot Priests: Services of Burning Incense Priests: Services of, Divided by Lot Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Zacharias, officiating Priest In, Has a Vision of an Angel The Lot: Priests and Levites Designated By, for Sanctuary Service Zacharias (Zechariah): The Father of John the Baptist

Luke 1:9

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