Devine Scripture

Luke 1:22

What does Luke 1:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:22 means

When Zacharias came out, he could not speak; the people recognized he had seen a vision and communicated by signs, remaining mute. This confirms the angel’s words about his silence. Their interpretation—that he had seen a vision—matches common understanding of prophetic encounters. Zacharias’s gestures become his only means of communication, creating a visual testimony of God’s intervention while keeping him from speaking until the appointed time.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them and remained dumb.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

Context

This verse continues the narrative of public reaction. It shows the immediate effect of Gabriel’s sign: Zacharias’s muteness and the crowd’s perception of a vision. This sets up the household scene to follow and prepares the reader for the private unfolding of the promise when his ministry days end.

v.21And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

v.22This passage

v.23And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 21:40

    And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,

  • John 13:24

    Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh.

  • Acts 19:33

    And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.

  • Luke 1:62

    And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

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