Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 1:68

"Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people," — Luke 1:68 (ASV)

The word “blessed” (GK 2329) can refer both to a human being on whom God has showered his goodness (as in vv.42, 45) and to God, to whom we return thanks for that goodness. “Israel” is paralleled by “his people” in vv.68, 77 .

The action is centered in two verbs: “has come”(GK 2170) and “has redeemed” (GK 4472 & 3391). The first is used for God “visiting” people in grace or in judgment (Exodus 4:31; Zechariah 10:3). Tragically, Jerusalem did not recognize the day when God came to her (19:44). The second verb speaks of a theme that runs throughout Scripture, with the Exodus being the great OT example of rescue from enemies and captivity. Luke 24:21 shows the expectation Jesus’ followers had that he would do a similar work of freeing God’s people. Luke, though committed to the universal application of the Gospel, includes these words of redemption that apply especially to Israel (see esp. v.69). Not only does this reflect his emphasis on the Jewish roots of Christianity, it also underlines the political aspects of redemption foremost in the minds of Zechariah’s contemporaries.