And thou, {m} child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

(m) Though you be at this present time ever so little.

People's New Testament

1:76 Thou, child. The babe, John, before him.

The Highest. The Most High is an epithet in Scripture only of the supreme God.

Wesley's Notes

1:76 And thou, child - He now speaks to John; yet not as a parent, but as a prophet.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

76-79. Here are the dying echoes of this song; and very beautiful are these closing notes-like the setting sun, shorn indeed of its noontide radiance, but skirting the horizon with a wavy and quivering light-as of molten gold-on which the eye delights to gaze, till it disappears from the view. The song passes not here from Christ to John, but only from Christ direct to Christ as heralded by His forerunner.

thou child-not "my son"-this child's relation to himself being lost in his relation to a Greater than either.

prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before him-that is, "the Highest." As "the Most High" is an epithet in Scripture only of the supreme God, it is inconceivable that inspiration should apply this term, as here undeniably, to Christ, unless He were "God over all blessed for ever" (Ro 9:5).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:67-80 Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Ro 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.