Luke 1:59

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.

And {G2532} it came to pass {G1096}, that on {G1722} the eighth {G3590} day {G2250} they came {G2064} to circumcise {G4059} the child {G3813}; and {G2532} they called {G2564} him {G846} Zacharias {G2197}, after {G1909} the name {G3686} of his {G846} father {G3962}.

On the eighth day, they came to do the child's b'rit-milah. They were about to name him Z'kharyah, after his father,

On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

Commentary

Luke 1:59 records a significant moment in the early life of John the Baptist, detailing the traditional Jewish practice of circumcision and the naming of a child. This verse sets the stage for the miraculous events that follow concerning his name.

Context

According to ancient Jewish law, particularly as commanded in Genesis 17:12 and reiterated in Leviticus 12:3, male infants were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. This act was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant, signifying a child's inclusion in God's chosen people. It was also customary for the child to be formally named at this ceremony. The community, expecting the child to follow tradition, assumed he would be named Zacharias after his father, Zacharias, who had been struck mute since the angelic annunciation of John's birth (Luke 1:20).

Key Themes

  • Obedience to God's Law: The family's adherence to the Mosaic Law regarding circumcision highlights their faithfulness to God's covenant.
  • Community Expectation vs. Divine Will: The verse vividly portrays the community's strong expectation for the child to bear his father's name, a common and respectful tradition. This sets up a dramatic contrast with the divine instruction given to Zacharias by the angel Gabriel concerning the child's true name (Luke 1:13).
  • Preparation for John the Baptist's Role: The naming dispute, resolved in the subsequent verses, underscores that this child's identity and mission were not of human choosing but divinely ordained.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "eighth day" (Greek: ogdoē hēmera) is significant. In Jewish thought, the eighth day often symbolized a new beginning or a fresh start beyond the cycle of seven. Circumcision on this day was not just a physical mark but a spiritual one, connecting the child to the covenant and a new life within it.

Significance and Application

Luke 1:59 serves as a crucial bridge, moving from the birth of John to the revelation of his divinely appointed name and future role. It teaches us about the importance of religious tradition and community involvement, but more profoundly, it highlights how God's specific plans can supersede human expectations and customs. The community's insistence on naming the child "Zacharias" reflects a natural desire to honor lineage, but God had a unique purpose for this child, who was destined to be the forerunner of the Messiah, as prophesied in Luke 1:76. This event reminds us that God's ways are often higher than our ways, and His divine will always prevails in His perfect timing.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 17:12 (7 votes)

    And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed.

  • Leviticus 12:3 (7 votes)

    And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

  • Philippians 3:5 (5 votes)

    Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

  • Luke 2:21 (5 votes)

    ¶ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

  • Genesis 21:3 (2 votes)

    And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

  • Genesis 21:4 (2 votes)

    And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

  • Acts 7:8 (2 votes)

    And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac [begat] Jacob; and Jacob [begat] the twelve patriarchs.