Elizabeth (Biblical person)

File:Mary-visits-elizabeth—luke1.jpg

The miraculously pregant Elizabeth embraces her young cousin Mary.

Elizabeth, also spelled Elisabeth or Elisheva (Hebrew אֱלִישֶׁבַע / אֱלִישָׁבַע "My God is an oath", Standard Hebrew Elišévaʿ / Elišávaʿ, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĔlîšéḇaʿ / ʾĔlîšāḇaʿ)(Arabic: إشاع) was the mother of John the Baptist and the wife of Zacharias, according to the New Testament.

Relation to Mary

According to Luke 1:36 Elizabeth is related to Mary. The word used in the Greek original is suggenes which according to Strong's Greek dictionary means: a relative (by blood); by extension, a fellow countryman [1]. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia their relation is given by St. Hippolytus, according to whom they are cousins; the mother of Elizabeth, Sobe and the mother of Mary, Saint Anne are sisters [2]. The mother of Mary is also known from an other source, the infancy Gospel of James.

Some translations of this verse states their relations as relative, kinswoman or 'of your family', others such as the English Standard 2nd Revision, states that they are cousins.

In the Bible

According to the Gospel of Luke, Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron the priest (Luke 1:5). She and her husband Zechariah were "righteous before God, living blamelessly" (1:6). Like several other providential women in the Bible, Elizabeth was barren. Luke specifically mentions that she was also old, being "far advanced in years."

Zechariah, having been chosen by lot for the honor to minister at the altar of incense in the Temple of Jerusalem was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who told him that Elizabeth would have a son who "will be great in the sight of the Lord" (1:15) and would be inspired by the "spirit and power of Elijah." Zechariah expressed doubts that such a thing could be possible, because, "I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." Gabriel caused him to lose the power of speech because of his doubt.

Nevertheless, after Zechariah returned to their home in the hill country of Judea, both he and Elizabeth proved equal to the task. Overjoyed, Elizabeth declared, "The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." To ensure the success of her pregnancy, she secluded herself for five months. In the sixth month, she received an unexpected visit from of her young cousin, Mary (1:36).

Gabriel had visited Mary in Nazareth and informed that she would conceive a son. even though she had not yet "known a man." Aks how such a thing could happpen, he informed Mary of Elizabeth's own miraculous pregnancy, and Mary immediately left Nazareth in response. See Mary, Elizabeth's fetus become agitated, and she prophecied:

Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (1:41-43)

Elizabeth and Zechariah provided hospitality to Mary for three months, but as the time for Elizabeth to give birth neared, Mary returned to Nazareth.

File:Zechariah-names-John.jpg

Zechariah comfirms Elizabeth's statement: "His name is John."

After this, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and, when the extended family gathered for his circumcision eight days later, named him John. The relatives, not including Mary, protested on the grounds that not of the child's ancestors had been so-named. At this point Zechariah confirmed the name through the use of a writing tablet, and his power of speech miraculously returned. He too then prophecied, predicting:

You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins. (Luke 1:76-77)

John would indeed go on to be a famous prophet in Christian tradition, being the forerunner of Jesus who baptized many thousands at the River Jordan and testified to Jesus as the son of God. Outside of the New Testament, John is mentioned in the works of the historian Josephus. Luke reports John's reputation to be so great that: "The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. (3:15)

Outside of the Bible

Icon of Saint Elizabeth.

Elizabeth is not mentioned in the New Testament outside of the Gospel of Luke. However, she is also mentioned in several books of the Apocrypha, most prominently in the Infancy Gospel of James.

In this account Elizabeth's husband Zechariah is identified as the "high priest," and thus ministers regularly in the Temple of Jerusalem. Also, Mary is specifically said to be unaware of the Gabriel's annunciation of her coming pregnancy, having "forgetten" it; and she answer's Elizabeth's greeting by saying, "Who am I, O Lord, that all the generations of the earth should bless me? Later, Elizabeth hides her infant son John from the agents of Herod, who seek not only to kill Jesus but John as well. Unable to find a suitable hiding place, she cried out to God, and God opens a cleft for her in a mountain, where she and John hide, watched over by an angel. Zechariah, however, is soon killed by Herod's agents when he refuses to divulge their hiding place.

Elizabeth is revered as a saint in the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions. Her feast is celebrated on September 8 by the Greeks, and November 5 by the Catholics.

Modern views

Modern criticism takes various views toward Elizabeth. Some see her as a fictional character, while others ascribe to her a greater value that that given by Luke. One theory holds that the stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah were once part of a non-Christian tradition centering on John the Baptist, who was thought by many to be a messianic figure in his own right.

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Elizabeth bows before Mary: adopting an independent tradition?

In this view, Luke (and also the author of the Gospel of John) go to some lenghth to present John as subordinate to Jesus. Thus, when John baptizes Jesus, this cannot signify that Jesus has become a disciple of John, and John protests that it should be Jesus that baptizes him. Likewise, when the miraculously pregnant Elizabeth receive a visit from Mary, Elizabeth greets her with great honor and respect even though Mary is much younger that she. Some have suggested that the Magnifat of Mary, recited in response to Elizabeth's greeting orginally belonged to Elizabeth herself, for it echoes the prophecy uttered by her husband Zechariah at John's birth, and is utterly devoid of Christian sentiment:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.(Luke 1:46-55)

Elizabeth in Unificationism

In Unificationist tradition, Elizabeth plays an important role as Mary's counterpart. She stands in the same postion as Jacob's wife Leah, while Mary is in the position of Rachel. Accordingly, Zechariah is not only Elizabeth's husband but also the father of Mary's child, Jesus. Elizabeth's responsibility was to foster unity between herself and Mary, and to encourage Zechariah to protect Mary and her unborn child. When Mary left Zechariah's house just prior to Elizabeth's giving birth, the relations among herself and Elizabeth had gone sour, causing Jesus to be born under suspicion of illegitimacy since Joseph knew that he was not Jesus' father. (see talk:Elizabeth (biblical person):Unification Aspects.)

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