1:65a

All their neighbors were filled with awe: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as All their neighbors were filled with awe is literally “fear/awe came upon all the neighbors.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as awe expresses an emotion of amazement and fear. The people felt this way because God worked powerfully among them. Translate this by the word in your language that expresses best what people feel when a supernatural being is present or supernatural power is active.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

All their neighbors felt great awe
-or-
All the people who lived near them were amazed and fearful
-or-
All the neighbours were overcome with awe (Revised English Bible)

In some languages there may be an idiom to express this.

All their neighbors: The word neighbors here refers to people who lived near Elizabeth and Zechariah. It is the same word as in 1:58a. But in this verse, Luke referred to all of their neighbors, not only to the neighbors who were present for the circumcision.

1:65b

people throughout the hill country of Judea: The phrase the hill country of Judea refers to the hilly area of the province of Judea. This was the area where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived. See the note on 1:39b.

1:65c

these events: The phrase these events refers to the special events that God had caused to happen in relation to John’s birth. For example, God’s angel spoke to Zechariah in the temple, and he became unable to speak. Elizabeth became pregnant, although she was old and had been unable to have children. John was born, and Zechariah became able to speak again and praised God. Refer to these things in a natural way in your language.

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