Luke 1:7

No child. Among Oriental peoples childlessness has ever been looked upon as a great affliction. Often the Jews considered it to be divine punishment for sin (see on Lev. 20:20). Among the Jews, as among some Oriental peoples today, childlessness was considered adequate grounds for polygamy and concubinage, and was accepted as sufficient legal grounds for divorce.

How often have men who were chosen before birth to accomplish a great task for God been born in spite of age or sterility on the part of their parents (see Gen. 11:30; 17:17; 18:11; 25:21; 30:22-24; 1 Sam. 1:2, 8, 11). With men many things are impossible, but “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God often leads men to realize their own weakness, in order that when deliverance comes they may appreciate His might and power through personal experience. In the case of Elisabeth there was a double reason for not expecting children, for to lifelong barrenness was added old age.

Well stricken in years. Literally, “advanced in their days,” from a characteristic Hebrew idiom (see Gen. 24:1; Joshua 13:1), which simply means “advanced in age.”