Chapter

Luke 1:61

ESV And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."
NIV They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name."
NASB And they said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.'
CSB Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name."
NLT What?' they exclaimed. 'There is no one in all your family by that name.'
KJV And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
NKJV But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

What does Luke 1:61 mean?

By the New Testament era, it was common for Jewish families to rely on a set of traditional, family names when identifying newborn sons. Now that Elizabeth and Zechariah have finally had a child (Luke 1:5–7, 13, 57), family and neighbors expect them to follow that trend. Since Zechariah is unable to speak (Luke 1:18–20), those performing the naming ceremony plan to name the child after his father (Luke 1:59). Elizabeth refuses (Luke 1:60), wanting to name the child "John."

"John" is the name Zechariah was told to give his son, by Gabriel himself (Luke 1:13). Though he cannot speak—and likely cannot hear (Luke 1:62)—he can still write. He probably communicated everything to Elizabeth when he came home. Her insistence on the name John most likely is not a supernatural occurrence, or even a coincidence. And yet, others hesitate to accept her choice of a name. They will ask Zechariah, who confirms her wish and is immediately freed from his temporary silence (Luke 1:62–64).
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