Elizabeth (Biblical person)
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Elizabeth, also spelled Elisabeth (Hebrew אֱלִישֶׁבַע / אֱלִישָׁבַע "My God is oath", Standard Hebrew Elišévaʿ / Elišávaʿ, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĔlîšéḇaʿ / ʾĔlîšāḇaʿ)(Arabic: إشاع) was the mother of John the Baptist, according to the New Testament.
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), but childless. Zechariah was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who told him his wife would have a son who "will be great in the sight of the Lord" (1:15).
The pregnant Elizabeth was visited by her cousin (1:36) Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus:
- When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb.
- And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry:
- "Blessed are you amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (1:41-2)
Elizabeth is revered as a saint in the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions.
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