King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise he wrote, "His name is Yochanan."
Berean Standard Bible:
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
American Standard Version:
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} he asked for{G154} a writing table{G4093}, and wrote{G1125}, saying{G3004}, His{G846} name{G3686} is{G2076} John{G2491}. And{G2532} they marvelled{G2296} all{G3956}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 1:60
- And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called John.
Luke 1:13
- But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Isaiah 30:8
- ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Proverbs 3:3
- Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Habakkuk 2:2
- And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Jeremiah 17:1
- ¶ The sin of Judah [is] written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: [it is] graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Luke 1:63
Luke 1:63 is a verse set within the narrative of the birth of John the Baptist, who is a key figure in the Gospel accounts as the forerunner to Jesus Christ. The historical context of this event is set in the period of Second Temple Judaism, under the rule of the Roman Empire. John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were both of priestly descent and were described as righteous before God, living blamelessly according to the law.
The verse occurs immediately after Zechariah's period of muteness, which was a divine punishment for his initial disbelief in the angel Gabriel's announcement that Elizabeth would bear a son in their old age. This son was to be named John and would have the important role of preparing the way for the Lord. Zechariah's ability to speak was restored at the moment he affirmed the angel's message by writing the name "John" on a writing tablet, as his contemporaries had expected the child to be named after his father, Zechariah, following Jewish custom.
The themes present in this verse include divine intervention, the importance of faith and obedience, and the fulfillment of prophetic announcements. Zechariah's obedience in naming his son John, despite the social expectations to name him after himself, demonstrates his submission to God's will. The reaction of those present—that they "marvelled all" —reflects their astonishment at this confirmation of the divine message and the restoration of Zechariah's speech, reinforcing the miraculous nature of the events surrounding John's birth and foreshadowing his significant role in salvation history. This moment also underscores the power of God to override human expectations and to bring about His divine plan through the obedience of His servants.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G154
There are 196 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αἰτέω
Transliteration: aitéō
Pronunciation: ahee-teh'-o
Description: of uncertain derivation; to ask (in genitive case):--ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Compare πυνθάνομαι. - Strong's Number: G4093
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πινακίδιον
Transliteration: pinakídion
Pronunciation: pin-ak-id'-ee-on
Description: diminutive of πίναξ; a tablet (for writing on):--writing table. - Strong's Number: G1125
There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γράφω
Transliteration: gráphō
Pronunciation: graf'-o
Description: a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten). - Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G3686
There are 214 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὄνομα
Transliteration: ónoma
Pronunciation: on'-om-ah
Description: from a presumed derivative of the base of γινώσκω (compare ὀνίνημι); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d). - Strong's Number: G2076
There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐστί
Transliteration: estí
Pronunciation: es-tee'
Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle. - Strong's Number: G2491
There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰωάννης
Transliteration: Iōánnēs
Pronunciation: ee-o-an'-nace
Description: of Hebrew origin (יוֹחָנָן); Joannes (i.e. Jochanan), the name of four Israelites:--John. - Strong's Number: G2296
There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θαυμάζω
Transliteration: thaumázō
Pronunciation: thou-mad'-zo
Description: from θαῦμα; to wonder; by implication, to admire:--admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder. - Strong's Number: G3956
There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πᾶς
Transliteration: pâs
Pronunciation: pas
Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.