Introduction

Elisabeth is one of the few women in the Bible who is both named and we get a lot of information on her family. She is most well known for being the mother of John the Baptist and the fact that she overcame barrenness to have John in her old age. In many ways her story is similar to that of Sarah.

Genealogy & Etymology

Name

I'm so used to spelling this name Elizabeth, with a z, that you can bet there are places on the blog where I have spelled it that way. However, some translations such as the KJV, ASV, and ERV, use an s. During this study, I realized the original Greek has a Sigma, not a Zeta, as the letter provided so for this post I am using Elisabeth. Either way, it is the same name with the same origin and meaning: "oath of God."[1]

Origin

Most of the time, we don't get a lot of information on women's background in the Bible, but we're told alot about Elisabeth's family and ancestry. She was from the Tribe of Levi (specifically being descended from Aaron). She is married to a man named Zacharias who is also part of the Tribe of Levi and is a priest. She is also related to Mary, the mother of Messiah! Some translations use the word cousin to describe their relationship while others use the word kin—I'm not sure of the exact relationship. Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist.

Questions

About the Passage

1. Elizabeth was up in age but by how much? 40s? 60s?
2. Why did she hide when she became pregnant?
3. Did she know anything about Gabriel's message?
4. How did she know to name the baby John?
5. How did she receive the Holy Spirit before the resurrection?
6. Was there ever a point where she thought John was going to be the Messiah?
7. Did she ever give up hope for children (before John)?
8. Were she and Mary close before the pregnancies?
9. Did they remain close after?
10. Did they raise their sons together?
11. Did she live to see Messiah's ministry (or John's)?
12. What was Elisabeth's role in the congregation?
13. Was she alive when John was beheaded
14. Did she have to take a Nazarite vow while pregnant (like Samson's mom)?
15. What kind of mother was she?
16. How long had she been married to Zacharias?
    • What was their relationship like?
    • Did he mind not having a child all those years?
17. Did she have any special duties as the wife of a priest?

If I could meet her

I think the most interesting thing about Elisabeth is her decision to hide for part of her pregnancy. I would want to discuss this with her. Many of my friends who have experienced miscarriages, don't announce pregnancies until they are clear of "the danger zone" and more confident they will deliver the baby. Was this Elisabeth's experience as well? Or was Elisabeth more concerned with gossip?

Another thing I think I'd want to discuss with her is how and when she learned about Gabriel's message to her husband. Zecharias is given the news that they will have a child, plus the instruction to name the child John, while he is tending his duties at the Temple. During Zecharias' encounter with Gabriel he loses his ability to speak. Elisabeth is not present when Gabriel tells Zecharias this news, but she is still aware that they are naming the child John. It seems that at some point she learns about Gabriel's message, but when and how? Both Mary and Joseph are told about the conception of Messiah and both Abraham and Sarah are told about the conception of Isaac. It seems reasonable to assume that God sent a message to Elisabeth as well, but the Bible isn't explicit on this manner, so I'd like to hear in her own words what happened.

Finally, there is the question of how old is old? In today's society, medicial professionals consider it a "geriatric" pregnancy if the woamn is over 35, but it isn't particularly shocking to see a woman in her 40s having a kid (with or without help). Still, society generally expects women to have children in their 20s and early 30s. I would assume in Elisabeth's time 30s was probably considered "old" for having children—or at the very least, old for starting to have children. It's very possible that Elisabeth was around the age I am now (36), which is an interesting thought to me. Did she want kids? Had she given up hope? How did she struggle and succeed in faith and hope?

Phototheology

Phototheology is a way of learning the Bible taught by Ivor Myers.[2] I am employing this technique in my weekly Woman of God study journal. The following three pormpts are the ones I drew from the card deck while studying Elisabeth.

Connect with the writings of Paul

Most of Paul's writings are to the new believers—specifically Gentiles. As such, his focus is ususaly on moving away from the past, dying to the old self, and moving to the new self. Elisabeth's son ushered in this throught process with Baptism. In addition, Elisabeth is one of the first people of the New Testament we see be filled with The Holy Spirit.

Elisabeth also displays faith and unity, two concepts Paul discusses often. She recognizes the Messiah within Mary's womb, which Messiah later tells us is something that can only be discerned through the Spirit.

How does the text relate to events that occurred in Earth past?

Elisabeth's story mirrors the story of many women in the Old Testament, all of whom go on to have prominent sons:

• Sarah has a miracle birth in old age; gives birth to Isaac, father of Jacob/Israel
• Rebekah struggles with fertility only to be blessed with twins, one of whom is Jacob/Israel
• Rachel has a miracle birth and her son becomes the one to save both Israel and Egypt in a faminine.
• Hannah stuggles to conceive, then gives birth to Samuel the last Judge of Israel
• Unnamed woman struggling before giving birth to Samson, the strongest man in the Bible.

Each of these women seem to have 2 things in common; their husbands love them ayway and the same husbands intercede for them to have children.

How does the text or story connect to prophecy?

John the Baptist, Elisabeth's son, fulfills 2 prophecies. The Old Testament foretells of someone like Elijah making way for Messiah. More generally, God often uses women and mircale birthdays to showcase His power.

Journal Pages

Journal pages for Elisabeth (April 23-29, 2025)

References & Footnotes

1. "Strong's G1665. Ἐλισάβετ". Blue Letter Bible; visited April 2025
2. Pastor Ivor Myers' Phototheology Game Deck