Luke 1:78

διὰ σπλάγχνα, etc., on account of, etc., indicating the fountain-head of salvation the mercy of God, described in Hebrew phrase as the bowels of mercy of our God. ἐπισκέψεται : the future (aorist in T.R.), though in few MSS. ([15] [16] [17]), is doubtless the true reading. In the second great strophe the verbs are all future, and describe what is to be. ἀνατολὴ : happily rendered “dayspring” in A. V [18] The reference is undoubtedly to a light, star, or sun, not to a branch from Jesse's stem, as it might be so far as usage in Sept [19] is concerned (vide Jeremiah 23:5, Zechar. Luke 3:8; Luke 6:12), for its function is ἐπιφᾶναι, to appear as a light to those in darkness (σκότει). σκιᾷ θανάτου : vide on Matthew 4:16.

[15] Codex Sinaiticus (sæc. iv.), now at St. Petersburg, published in facsimile type by its discoverer, Tischendorf, in 1862.

[16] Codex Vaticanus (sæc. iv.), published in photographic facsimile in 1889 under the care of the Abbate Cozza-Luzi.

[17] Codex Regius--eighth century, represents an ancient text, and is often in agreement with א and B.

[18] Authorised Version.

[19] Septuagint.

The Benedictus is steeped in O. T. language; “an anthology from Psalms and Prophets,” Holtz., H. C.