I have a special affinity for the two mothers mentioned in the early portions of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. According to family legend, I’m the only one of the seven children in my family to be named by my Dad. He chose Mary for my first name (after Jesus’ mother) and Elizabeth for my middle name (after John the Baptist’s mother). I’ve always loved knowing that I was named after these two women who birthed the two most important men in the history of humans.
Only two of the four gospel writers talk about the birth of Jesus Christ, and only one writes about the birth of John the Baptist, his cousin. In the gospel of Luke, he seems very concerned about talking about all of the miracles surrounding both births—and I, for one, am grateful. I like to be reminded that Jesus (and John) came to earth using human birth. It helps me to know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, were just ordinary women and that their offspring grew up experiencing humanity’s difficulties as we do.
What Was the Name of John the Baptist’s Mother?
The name of John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Elisheba, which means “My God has sworn” or “God of oath.” We don’t know about her parents or why they chose that name for her—perhaps because of a promise that an important child would be born to the family.
We do learn something about her lineage. When we first read about her in Luke 1:5, it is in the context of being temple priest Zechariah’s wife. It also says that she was a descendant of Aaron. Luke knew this was important to mention because Aaron, Moses’ brother, was a Levite. This was the tribe God had called after the Exodus to be set apart as the only one that could provide priests for the temple. Her husband was a priest, and the Bible says, “Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly” (Luke 1:6-7).
These qualities would be necessary for John the Baptist’s mother to raise the one who would prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah.
Why Was It Considered Tragic that Elizabeth Had No Children?
In His Mosaic covenant, God said, “I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.” Having offspring was phrased as a good thing and a reward for obedience.
Surely Zechariah and Elizabeth were the model for such a blessing—and should have been blessed tenfold. They came from the best family lineage a priest could have. They followed the Lord and tried to honor Him in everything they did. Yet Elizabeth was well beyond childbearing years.
Barrenness must have affected her and Zechariah emotionally, socially, and spiritually. In “How Did a Husband’s Love Help in the Face of Barrenness in the Bible?” Jessica Brodie writes that there were several implications of a woman being barren in biblical times. Children were considered divine blessings, and as few women had jobs, society often treated being a wife and mother as women’s only job. Barrenness also could affect the husband’s reputation, so many barren women “felt useless to their husband, whose ability to have children ensured his success and lineage, as well as publicly demonstrated God’s favor upon him.”
Starting with the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky, offspring were prized for building the tribe—for building wealth, for protection from enemies. In some contexts (like in the story of Naomi and Ruth), a childless widow could not earn her keep. Considering how difficult it was to work the land for sustenance, children would be essential for helping to keep food on the table.
But as He does on many occasions, He blesses them beyond their wildest dreams.
How Did God Tell Elizabeth and Zechariah that They Would Have John?
On a day when it was Zechariah’s turn to go into the temple and burn incense to the Lord, he was met by a heavenly visitor.
The Angel Gabriel told him that his prayer had been answered and that his wife Elizabeth would have a son that they were to name John (a name that wasn’t in keeping with family tradition). Gabriel tells Zechariah, “He will be a joy and delight to you . . . Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.”
Zechariah didn’t believe it, even though he knew very well the similar story of Abraham and Sarah conceiving when they were very old. As a result of his unbelief, Gabriel said that Zechariah would be mute until the baby was born. He went home to Elizabeth and conceived his son.
How Did John the Baptist’s Mother Respond to Mary?
When the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to the Messiah, He had told Mary, “Even Elizabeth your relative,” was going to have a baby. In fact, he explained that Elizabeth was already in her sixth month of pregnancy. For nothing was impossible with God.
Who else would understand what Mary was experiencing? Who wouldn’t call her crazy? Who would show her that God keeps His promises? None but Elizabeth. The Bible doesn’t say how she was related to Mary, but it made no difference. In Elizabeth, Mary would find a kindred spirit. So Mary headed toward Elizabeth.
When Mary walked into Elizabeth’s home, and she heard Mary’s voice, the baby leaped in her womb. This doesn’t sound like a typical baby kick but a more pronounced full-body leap of joy that would get Elizabeth’s attention.
An indwelling of the Holy Spirit informed Elizabeth that Mary would be the mother of the Messiah. She exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear” (Luke 1:42).
Mary may have sent a letter telling Elizabeth what Gabriel had told her, but this seems like a spontaneous response caused by the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth exclaimed that she was highly favored that Mary would come to her. It’s one of those scenes in the Bible that you want to recreate and see for yourself: Jesus and John the Baptist “meeting” each other within the mothers’ wombs. Nothing is impossible with God.
When John was born and then circumcised, Elizabeth’s family was going to name him after his father, but Elizabeth was the one who spoke up to say that his name was to be John.
What Can We Learn from John the Baptist’s Mother?
Though she is my semi-namesake, I’ve never looked closely at Elizabeth. She seemed to be a background character because the focus was on Mary and Jesus. But now I see several things that jump out at me that have to do with faithfulness:
- Though she continued to wait year after year for a child, she remained faithful to God and His commandments.
- She acknowledged to everyone that God was the one who had given her this gift, giving Him all of the glory.
- She celebrated with Mary and her son that the Messiah had come and was grateful to God for including her in what He was doing.
- She ensured that her son was named John, as God had ordered.
- She raised him as the young man who would prepare the way for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
As I write about Bible characters, I am more and more convinced that there is so much we can mine from their lives that teach us about God and His character. I will commit not to pass over names that I only hear a few times or verses, but I will take the time to learn why God wanted to make sure they were mentioned in His word.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/lioputra
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
How Did the Apostle Paul Die?
Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation?
Who Was Deborah in the Bible?
Who Was Moses in the Bible?
King Solomon's Story in the Bible
Who Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?
Who Was the Prodigal Son?
