57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [1:58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. [1:59] And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zechariah. [1:60] And his mother answered and said: "No — he shall be called John." [1:61] And they said to her: "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." [1:62] And they made signs to his father, asking what he would want him to be called. [1:63] And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "John is his name." And all were amazed. [1:64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [1:65] And awe came upon all their neighbors, and all these sayings were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. [1:66] And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying: "What then will this child be?" For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
LUK 1:57-66
The Birth of John the Baptist
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, the birth of a son was a moment of profound social and religious significance, marking the continuation of a family line and the fulfillment of divine promises. Circumcision on the eighth day was a covenantal act, deeply rooted in Jewish identity and Torah observance (Genesis 17:12). The naming of a child was not merely a familial decision but often reflected divine intervention or prophetic significance, as seen in the naming of Isaac (Genesis 17:19) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20). Elizabeth’s insistence on naming her son John, contrary to familial expectations, signaled a break from tradition and pointed to God’s direct involvement. The neighbors’ reaction—rejoicing and marveling—reflects the communal nature of such events, where private blessings became public testimonies of God’s mercy. Zechariah’s muteness, a divine judgment for his initial disbelief (Luke 1:20), added to the sense of awe and divine activity surrounding John’s birth. The use of a writing tablet to confirm the name underscores the gravity of the moment, as written words carried authority and permanence in a predominantly oral culture.
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How other translations render this
LUK 1:57
- KJV
- Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
- BSB
- When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
- Koinōnos
- Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
LUK 1:58
- KJV
- And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
- BSB
- Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
- Koinōnos
- And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
LUK 1:59
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
- Koinōnos
- And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zechariah.
LUK 1:60
- KJV
- And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
- BSB
- But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
- Koinōnos
- And his mother answered and said: "No — he shall be called John.
LUK 1:61
- KJV
- And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
- BSB
- They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
- Koinōnos
- And they said to her: "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.
LUK 1:62
- KJV
- And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
- BSB
- So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
- Koinōnos
- And they made signs to his father, asking what he would want him to be called.
LUK 1:63
- KJV
- And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
- BSB
- Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
- Koinōnos
- And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "John is his name." And all were amazed.
LUK 1:64
- KJV
- And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
- BSB
- Immediately Zechariahʼs mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
- Koinōnos
- And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
LUK 1:65
- KJV
- And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
- BSB
- All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
- Koinōnos
- And awe came upon all their neighbors, and all these sayings were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
LUK 1:66
- KJV
- And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
- BSB
- And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lordʼs hand was with him.
- Koinōnos
- And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying: "What then will this child be?" For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 1:58
- magnified:The word translated 'magnified' here means to make great or powerful, to exalt someone's status or reputation, not merely to speak highly of them.
LUK 1:63
- a writing tablet:The term used here for 'a writing tablet' refers to a small, portable board, often coated with wax, used for temporary notes or messages, not a modern paper tablet.
LUK 1:65
- fear:The word translated 'fear' in this context often implies a sense of awe or reverence, a profound respect for divine power, rather than simple terror or fright.
- declarations:The word translated 'declarations' refers to spoken words or sayings, emphasizing the act of speaking and the content of what was said, rather than formal pronouncements.