Luke 1:20
What does Luke 1:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 1:20 means
Because Zacharias did not believe Gabriel’s words, he would be made mute until the fulfillment of the promise. This sign served both as judgment and confirmation: it addressed unbelief and preserved the angel’s message until it came to pass. The temporary silence ensured that Zacharias could not contradict or doubt publicly. It shows God’s holiness and the seriousness of faith, but it is corrective and temporary, ending in praise when the promise is fulfilled.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And behold, thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass: because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.
Context
This verse follows Gabriel’s identification and answers Zacharias’s skepticism with a tangible sign. It moves the narrative from promise to consequence. The enforced silence shapes the next sequence—Zacharias’s inability to speak—and foreshadows the later restoration of his speech at John’s naming.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 16:14
And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.
- 2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
- Exodus 4:11
And Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I, Jehovah?
- 2 Kings 7:2
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
- Numbers 20:12
And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
- Titus 1:2
in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;
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