Bible Dictionary
Elisabeth
Elisabeth was the wife of the priest Zacharias and the mother of John the Baptist. She was of priestly descent and received Mary, the mother of Jesus, with faith and rejoicing.
Definition
Elisabeth was the wife of Zacharias the priest and the mother of John the Baptist. She belonged to a priestly family and was a kinswoman of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her name means “the oath of God” or “God is my oath.”
Biblical Usage
Elisabeth and Zacharias are described as righteous before God. She was the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary visited her before John’s birth. The account of that visit records Elisabeth’s reception of Mary with faith and rejoicing.
Historical Background
Elisabeth was of priestly lineage, being descended from Aaron. Her family relationship to Mary is described in the account of the annunciation and Mary’s visit.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
God her oath, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). She was a descendant of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharias (q.v.) “were both righteous before God” (Luke 1:5, 13). Mary’s visit to Elisabeth is described in 1:39-63.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(the oath of God), the wife of Zacharias and mother of John the Baptist. She was herself of the priestly family, and a relation, (Luke 1:36) of the mother of our Lord.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>e-liz'-a-beth (Elisabet, Westcott and Hort Eleisdbet, from Heb 'elishebha` (Elisheba), "God is (my) oath," i.e. a worshipper of God):</p><p>Wife of Zacharias the priest and mother of John the Baptist (Lu 1:5 ff). Elisabeth herself was of priestly lineage and a "kinswoman" (the King James Version COUSIN, which see) of the Virgin Mary (Lu 1:36), of whose visit to Elisabeth a remarkable account is given in Lu 1:39-56.</p><p>See ZACHARIAS.</p>