Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Children » Early piety of » John the baptist
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he should, no, not drink wine and strong drink. And he will be filled of Holy Spirit, even from his mother's belly.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Children » Good Children » Good Parents » John the baptist
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Children » Instances of » John
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Deserts » General references to
And an agent of Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desolate region.
And when the apostles returned, they related to him as many things as they did. And having taken them along, he withdrew in private into a desolate place of a city called Bethsaida.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
And when it became day, having departed, he went to a desolate place. And the multitudes sought him, and they came to him, and were restraining him not depart from them.
And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
spiritual Development » Examples of growth » John the baptist
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
spiritual Growth » Examples of » John the baptist
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
John » Lives in the desert
It came to pass, that John was immersing in the wilderness and preaching an immersion of repentance for remission of sins.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
And in those days John the immerser comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying,
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God became in John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching an immersion of repentance for remission of sins,
John » Affected probably by the doctrines of the stoics
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon.
And John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and eating locusts and wild honey.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Miracles » Catalogue of » The incarnation of jesus
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this way. For his mother Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found having in her womb from Holy Spirit. But Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to expose her to public disgrace, intended to dismiss her privately. But while he considered these things, behold, an agent of Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take Mary to be thy wife, for that which was begotten in her is from Holy Spirit. read more.
And she will bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins. Now all this has come to pass, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Behold, the virgin will have in her womb, and will bring forth a son. And they will call his name Immanuel, which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph, being roused from his sleep, did as the agent of Lord ordered him. And he took his wife, and knew her not until she brought forth her son, the firstborn. And he called his name JESUS.
And she will bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins. Now all this has come to pass, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Behold, the virgin will have in her womb, and will bring forth a son. And they will call his name Immanuel, which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph, being roused from his sleep, did as the agent of Lord ordered him. And he took his wife, and knew her not until she brought forth her son, the firstborn. And he called his name JESUS.
Now in the sixth month the agent Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And the agent having come in near her, he said, Hail, thou who are highly favored. The Lord is with thee, thou who are blessed among women. read more.
But having seen, she was perplexed at his saying, and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be. And the agent said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou have found favor with God. And behold, thou will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name JESUS. This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages. And of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the agent, How will this be, since I know not a man? And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word from God will be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the maid-servant of Lord. May it happen to me according to thy word. And the agent departed from her. And having risen in these days, Mary went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled of Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed in a great voice, and said, Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy belly. And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For lo, when the voice of thy greeting happened in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my belly. And blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the lowliness of his bondmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations will regard me blessed, because the Mighty has done great things to me. And his name is holy. And his mercy is for generations of generations to those who fear him. He did a mighty work by his arm. He scattered the proud in the mentality of their heart. He brought down potentates from thrones, and raised up lowly men. He filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he sent away empty. He helped his boy Israel to be reminded of mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his seed into the age. And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house. Now the time for Elizabeth was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinfolk heard that Lord magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling it by the name of his father Zacharias. And his mother having answered, said, No, but he will be called John. And they said to her, There is no man among thy relatives who is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, whatever he wanted to call him. And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, praising God. And fear developed in all who dwell around them. And all these sayings were talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. And all who heard stored up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
But having seen, she was perplexed at his saying, and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be. And the agent said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou have found favor with God. And behold, thou will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name JESUS. This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages. And of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the agent, How will this be, since I know not a man? And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word from God will be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the maid-servant of Lord. May it happen to me according to thy word. And the agent departed from her. And having risen in these days, Mary went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled of Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed in a great voice, and said, Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy belly. And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For lo, when the voice of thy greeting happened in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my belly. And blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the lowliness of his bondmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations will regard me blessed, because the Mighty has done great things to me. And his name is holy. And his mercy is for generations of generations to those who fear him. He did a mighty work by his arm. He scattered the proud in the mentality of their heart. He brought down potentates from thrones, and raised up lowly men. He filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he sent away empty. He helped his boy Israel to be reminded of mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his seed into the age. And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house. Now the time for Elizabeth was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinfolk heard that Lord magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling it by the name of his father Zacharias. And his mother having answered, said, No, but he will be called John. And they said to her, There is no man among thy relatives who is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, whatever he wanted to call him. And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, praising God. And fear developed in all who dwell around them. And all these sayings were talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. And all who heard stored up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Select readings » The prophetic blessing of zacharias
And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, read more.
just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Spiritual » Examples of growth » John the baptist
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Zacharias (zechariah) » The father of john the baptist
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God became in John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, from the division of Abijah, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, going in all the commandments and righteous things of the Lord blameless. And there was no child to them because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days. read more.
But it came to pass during his service as a priest in the course of his division in the presence of God, that, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense after entering into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And an agent of Lord became visible to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias having seen, was shaken, and fear fell upon him. But the agent said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy plea was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth will bear a son for thee. And thou shall call his name John. And there will be joy and exultation for thee, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he should, no, not drink wine and strong drink. And he will be filled of Holy Spirit, even from his mother's belly. And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to Lord their God. And he will go ahead, in front of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward children, and the disobedient in a mentality of the righteous, to make ready for Lord a people prepared. And Zacharias said to the agent, How will I know this? For I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days. And having answered, the agent said to him, I am Gabriel who stand in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to thee, and to announce these good news to thee. And behold, thou will be mute, and not able to speak until that day these things will come to pass, because thou did not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered during his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she concealed herself five months, saying, Thus the Lord has done to me during the days in which he looked, to take away my shame among men. Now in the sixth month the agent Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And the agent having come in near her, he said, Hail, thou who are highly favored. The Lord is with thee, thou who are blessed among women. But having seen, she was perplexed at his saying, and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be. And the agent said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou have found favor with God. And behold, thou will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name JESUS. This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages. And of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the agent, How will this be, since I know not a man? And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word from God will be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the maid-servant of Lord. May it happen to me according to thy word. And the agent departed from her. And having risen in these days, Mary went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled of Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed in a great voice, and said, Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy belly. And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For lo, when the voice of thy greeting happened in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my belly. And blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the lowliness of his bondmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations will regard me blessed, because the Mighty has done great things to me. And his name is holy. And his mercy is for generations of generations to those who fear him. He did a mighty work by his arm. He scattered the proud in the mentality of their heart. He brought down potentates from thrones, and raised up lowly men. He filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he sent away empty. He helped his boy Israel to be reminded of mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his seed into the age. And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house. Now the time for Elizabeth was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinfolk heard that Lord magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling it by the name of his father Zacharias. And his mother having answered, said, No, but he will be called John. And they said to her, There is no man among thy relatives who is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, whatever he wanted to call him. And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, praising God. And fear developed in all who dwell around them. And all these sayings were talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. And all who heard stored up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
But it came to pass during his service as a priest in the course of his division in the presence of God, that, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense after entering into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And an agent of Lord became visible to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias having seen, was shaken, and fear fell upon him. But the agent said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy plea was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth will bear a son for thee. And thou shall call his name John. And there will be joy and exultation for thee, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he should, no, not drink wine and strong drink. And he will be filled of Holy Spirit, even from his mother's belly. And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to Lord their God. And he will go ahead, in front of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward children, and the disobedient in a mentality of the righteous, to make ready for Lord a people prepared. And Zacharias said to the agent, How will I know this? For I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days. And having answered, the agent said to him, I am Gabriel who stand in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to thee, and to announce these good news to thee. And behold, thou will be mute, and not able to speak until that day these things will come to pass, because thou did not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered during his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she concealed herself five months, saying, Thus the Lord has done to me during the days in which he looked, to take away my shame among men. Now in the sixth month the agent Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And the agent having come in near her, he said, Hail, thou who are highly favored. The Lord is with thee, thou who are blessed among women. But having seen, she was perplexed at his saying, and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be. And the agent said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou have found favor with God. And behold, thou will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son. And thou shall call his name JESUS. This man will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages. And of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the agent, How will this be, since I know not a man? And having answered, the agent said to her, Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee. Therefore also the holy thing that is begotten will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word from God will be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the maid-servant of Lord. May it happen to me according to thy word. And the agent departed from her. And having risen in these days, Mary went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled of Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed in a great voice, and said, Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy belly. And why is this to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For lo, when the voice of thy greeting happened in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my belly. And blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the lowliness of his bondmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations will regard me blessed, because the Mighty has done great things to me. And his name is holy. And his mercy is for generations of generations to those who fear him. He did a mighty work by his arm. He scattered the proud in the mentality of their heart. He brought down potentates from thrones, and raised up lowly men. He filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he sent away empty. He helped his boy Israel to be reminded of mercy, just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and his seed into the age. And Mary dwelt with her about three months, and returned to her house. Now the time for Elizabeth was fulfilled for her to give birth, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinfolk heard that Lord magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling it by the name of his father Zacharias. And his mother having answered, said, No, but he will be called John. And they said to her, There is no man among thy relatives who is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, whatever he wanted to call him. And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, praising God. And fear developed in all who dwell around them. And all these sayings were talked about in the entire hill country of Judea. And all who heard stored up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled of Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is Lord, the God of Israel, because he came to help, and made ransom for his people. And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his boy David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to do mercy with our fathers, and his holy covenant to be remembered, the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to give to us, without fear from the hand of our enemies, having been saved to serve him in piety and righteousness before him all our the days of our life. And thou, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For thou will go ahead, before the face of Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins, because of the bowels of mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high came to help us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into a way of peace. And the child grew, and became strong in spirit. And he was in the desolate regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.