Devine Scripture

Luke 1:63

What does Luke 1:63 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:63 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:63 means

Zacharias asks for a writing tablet and confirms the name: “His name is John.” This public written affirmation breaks the pattern of verbal naming and fulfills Gabriel’s instruction. The act shows obedience and vindicates the angel’s message. The family marvels at this decisive, miraculous confirmation coming from a man who had been mute. The written word serves as the sign that God’s plan stands, and immediately spiritual and social consequences follow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, `John is his name;' and they did all wonder;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered.

Context

This verse resolves the naming dispute and culminates the tension created by Zacharias’s muteness. His written affirmation sets up the restoration of speech and leads directly to the people’s amazement and the wider spread of the news about God’s action in their midst.

v.62And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

v.63This passage

v.64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God.

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 17:1

    The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, andwith the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

  • Habakkuk 2:2

    And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.

  • Isaiah 30:8

    Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

  • Luke 1:13

    But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

  • Luke 1:60

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

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