1:72 He has done this 1 to show mercy 2 to our ancestors, 3
and to remember his holy covenant 4 –
1:73 the oath 5 that he swore to our ancestor 6 Abraham.
This oath grants 7
1 tn The words “He has done this” (referring to the raising up of the horn of salvation from David’s house) are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to allow a new sentence to be started in the translation. The Greek sentence is lengthy and complex at this point, while contemporary English uses much shorter sentences.
2 sn Mercy refers to God’s loyal love (steadfast love) by which he completes his promises. See Luke 1:50.
3 tn Or “our forefathers”; Grk “our fathers.” This begins with the promise to Abraham (vv. 55, 73), and thus refers to many generations of ancestors.
4 sn The promises of God can be summarized as being found in the one promise (the oath that he swore) to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3).
5 tn This is linked back grammatically by apposition to “covenant” in v. 72, specifying which covenant is meant.
6 tn Or “forefather”; Grk “father.”
7 tn Again for reasons of English style, the infinitival clause “to grant us” has been translated “This oath grants” and made the beginning of a new sentence in the translation.