Devine Scripture

Luke 1:59

What does Luke 1:59 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:59 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:59 means

On the eighth day, during circumcision, the child would traditionally be named. The family expected to name him Zacharias after his father, following custom. The eighth day ceremony ties the child into Israel’s covenant through circumcision. The anticipated naming after the father reflects social expectations. The scene sets up a tension between human tradition and divine instruction about the child’s true name and vocation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child: and they called him by his father's name Zachary.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

This verse introduces the formal ritual where identity is publicly affirmed. After communal rejoicing, Luke moves to the established covenantal rite. The following verses present the family’s surprise when Elizabeth insists on naming him differently, prompting the restoration of Zacharias’s speech and prophetic affirmation.

v.58And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

v.59This passage

v.60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 7:8

    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 the twelve patriarchs.

  • Leviticus 12:3

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

  • Philippians 3:5

    circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

  • Genesis 21:3

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

  • Luke 2:21

    And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

  • Genesis 17:12

    And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.

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