Benedictus

The prophetic hymn spoken by Zechariah at the birth of his son John the Baptist. Named for its first word in Latin (“Blessed”), it is one of the great canticles of the New Testament.

The Text (Luke 1:67-79)

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Context

Zechariah, a priest, had been struck mute when he doubted Gabriel’s announcement that he and Elizabeth would have a son. At John’s circumcision, when Zechariah confirmed the name “John,” his speech returned and he prophesied this canticle.

Structure

The hymn has two parts:

Part 1 (vv. 68-75): Praise for Messianic Salvation

• God has visited and redeemed Israel
• A “horn of salvation” from David’s house
• Fulfillment of prophetic promises
• Remembrance of the Abrahamic covenant

Part 2 (vv. 76-79): John’s Role

• John will be “prophet of the Most High”
• He will prepare the Lord’s way
• He will proclaim salvation through forgiveness
• The “sunrise from on high” will bring light to darkness

Theological Themes

Covenant Faithfulness

Zechariah emphasizes God’s faithfulness to:

• The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7)
• The Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12, 17)
• The prophetic promises

Salvation

Salvation is portrayed as:

• Deliverance from enemies
• Forgiveness of sins
• Ability to serve God without fear

Light in Darkness

The “sunrise from on high” (ἀνατολή) imagery:

• Echoes prophetic language (Malachi 4:2, Isaiah 9:2)
• Points to Christ as the coming light
• Offers hope to those in “shadow of death”

Liturgical Use

Christian Practice

The Benedictus is prayed daily in:

• Catholic Church: Morning Prayer (Lauds)
• Eastern Orthodox: Orthros (Matins)
• Anglican/Episcopal: Morning Prayer
• Lutheran: Matins

It celebrates each new day as an encounter with God’s salvation.

Connection to Judaism

The hymn is saturated with Hebrew Bible imagery and could function as a Jewish prayer praising God’s faithfulness—apart from its specifically Christian messianic interpretation.