234 John’s role, to give his people knowledge of salvation, is similar to that of Jesus (Luke 3:1–14; 5:31–32).
235 Forgiveness is another major Lukan theme (Luke 4:18; 24:47; Acts 10:37).
236 For reasons of style, a new sentence has been started in the translation at this point. God’s mercy is ultimately seen in the deliverance John points to, so v. 78a is placed with the reference to Jesus as the light of dawning day.
237 God’s loyal love (steadfast love) is again the topic, reflected in the phrase tender mercy; see Luke 1:72.
238 The Greek term translated dawn (ἀνατολή, anatolē) can be a reference to the morning star or to the sun. The Messiah is pictured as a saving light that shows the way. The Greek term was also used to translate the Hebrew word for “branch” or “sprout,” so some see a double entendre here with messianic overtones (see Isa 11:1–10; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12).
239 Grk “shall visit us.”
240 On the phrases who sit in darkness … and … death see Isa 9:1–2; 42:7; 49:9–10.
241 Or “the path.”

In other versions

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.”

to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of our God’s merciful compassion,

the dawn from on high will visit us

to shine on those who live in darkness

and the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

You will tell his people how to find salvation

through forgiveness of their sins.

Because of God’s tender mercy,

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.”

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

by the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the merciful compassion of our God

by which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to direct our feet into the way of peace.”

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people

By the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God;

Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Public Domain