1:69 For 1 he has raised up 2 a horn of salvation 3 for us in the house of his servant David, 4
1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, 5
1:78 Because of 6 our God’s tender mercy 7
the dawn 8 will break 9 upon us from on high
1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, 10
to guide our feet into the way 11 of peace.”
1 tn Grk “and,” but specifying the reason for the praise in the psalm.
2 sn The phrase raised up means for God to bring someone significant onto the scene of history.
3 sn The horn of salvation is a figure that refers to the power of Messiah and his ability to protect, as the horn refers to what an animal uses to attack and defend (Ps 75:4-5, 10; 148:14; 2 Sam 22:3). Thus the meaning of the figure is “a powerful savior.”
4 sn In the house of his servant David is a reference to Messiah’s Davidic descent. Zechariah is more interested in Jesus than his own son John at this point.
5 tn Grk “from the ages,” “from eternity.”
6 tn For reasons of style, a new sentence has been started in the translation at this point. God’s mercy is ultimately seen in the deliverance John points to, so v. 78a is placed with the reference to Jesus as the light of dawning day.
7 sn God’s loyal love (steadfast love) is again the topic, reflected in the phrase tender mercy; see Luke 1:72.
8 sn The Greek term translated dawn (ἀνατολή, anatolh) can be a reference to the morning star or to the sun. The Messiah is pictured as a saving light that shows the way. The Greek term was also used to translate the Hebrew word for “branch” or “sprout,” so some see a double entendre here with messianic overtones (see Isa 11:1-10; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12).
9 tn Grk “shall visit us.”
10 sn On the phrases who sit in darkness…and…death see Isa 9:1-2; 42:7; 49:9-10.
11 tn Or “the path.”