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Also called
Elizabeth
Name means
'my God is an oath'
Role
Mother of John the Baptist
When
c. 7-5 BC

What they did

A righteous woman, barren and well stricken in years, who conceived John by God's promise; filled with the Holy Ghost, she blessed Mary when Mary visited her.

Why it matters: the purpose of their role

God's gift of a son in her old age prepared the way for the Messiah and showed that with God nothing is impossible.

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Luke 1:42 (KJV)

Bible references

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. Luke 1:5-7 (KJV)
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. Luke 1:24-25 (KJV)
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:41-45 (KJV)
Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. Luke 1:57-60 (KJV)

Family

Spouse(s)
Zacharias
Children
John the Baptist

Of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5); called Mary's cousin (Luke 1:36, KJV).