Others in the Gospels · Women in the Gospels and Acts
Elizabeth
Mother of John the Baptist
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- Events
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- Places
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- Journeys
Editorial summary
Wife of the priest Zacharias, of the daughters of Aaron. Barren and advanced in years, she conceived and bore John, and when her relative Mary visited her, she blessed Mary.
Scripture
Journeys
2Where their story unfolds
2Where they appear
3Zacharias in the temple
While the priest Zacharias burned incense in the temple, the angel Gabriel told him that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son, to be named John. Because he did not believe, he was unable to speak. Afterward Elizabeth conceived and hid herself for five months.
Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and greeted Elizabeth in the house of Zacharias. The baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed Mary, who praised God. Mary stayed about three months and then returned home.
The birth of John
Elizabeth gave birth to a son. When those who came to circumcise him would have named him Zacharias, Elizabeth said he would be called John, and Zacharias wrote, “His name is John.” His mouth was opened, and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he prophesied. The child grew and was in the desert until his public appearance to Israel.