Luke 1:59

Verse

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

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.

Bible in Basic English

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;

Douay-Rheims 1899

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.

Free Bible Version

Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.

Geneva Bible 1599

And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], after the name of his father.

Translation for Translators

Seven days later they gathered together for the ceremony for circumcising the baby to show that he belonged to God. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

World English Bible

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

Young's Literal Translation

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,

Context

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.⁵⁹On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.⁶⁰But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

Summary

This verse narrates the circumcision of John the Baptist and the naming ceremony where his relatives wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. However, Elizabeth insisted that he be named John, in obedience to the angel's instructions. This event signifies the fulfillment of God's plan and the beginning of John's prophetic ministry, as his name means 'God is gracious.' It showcases the faithfulness of Elizabeth and Zechariah in following God's divine guidance, setting the stage for John to prepare the way for Jesus.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

On the eighth day they came to circumcise - See an account of this institution in the note on Gen 17:10-14 (note). Had circumcision been essential to an infant's salvation, God would not have ordered it to be delayed to the eighth day, because, in all countries, multitudes die before they arrive at that age. Baptism, which is generally allowed to have been substituted for circumcision, is no more necessary to the salvation of an infant than circumcision was. Both are signs of the covenant - circumcision, of the putting away the impurity of the flesh; and baptism, of the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, producing the answer of a good conscience towards God. Confer Pe1 3:21, with Tit 3:5. This should never be neglected: it is a sign and token of the spiritual grace. They called him Zacharias - Among the Jews, the child was named when it was circumcised, and ordinarily the name of the father was given to the first-born son.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it came to pass that on the eighth day,.... The precise time fixed in the normal restitution of the ordinance of circumcision, Gen 17:12 though this was not always attended to, but circumcision was sometimes deferred to another time; yet keeping the exact time was judged most commendable and praiseworthy; see Gill on Phi 3:5. they came to circumcise the child; that is, the neighbours and cousins of Elisabeth, who were at the time of her delivery; eight days after they came again to be at the circumcision of the child: who was the operator is not known; nor was there any particular person appointed for this service; but any one might do it, whether ecclesiastic or laic, men or women, father or mother, or any other friend; for the rule is (n), "all are fit to circumcise; even an uncircumcised person, and a woman, and a minor, may circumcise in a place where there is no man; but a Gentile may not circumcise at all. The circumcision of John seems to be performed in Zacharias's house, and by one of those that came; for Zacharias, being dumb, could not say the blessing which the circumciser was obliged to say: nor indeed could he say that, which, as the father of the child, belonged to him; concerning which, take the following account (o): "the circumciser blesses before he circumcises, "saying", blessed is he that hath sanctified us by his precepts, and hath commanded us concerning circumcision: if he circumcises the son of his friend, or if he circumcises his own son, he blesses him with "this blessing"; and hath commanded us to circumcise a son: and the father of the son blesses with another blessing; blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hath sanctified us by his precepts, and hath commanded us to enter him into the covenant of Abraham our father.----If his father is not there, they do not say this other blessing.----And if there are any standing there, they say, as he hath brought him into the covenant, so bring him to the law, and to matrimony, and to good works; and after that the father of the child, or the circumciser, or one of those that stand by, bless, "saying", blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who sanctified the beloved (Isaac) from the womb, &c. How many of Elisabeth's neighbours and relations were present at this ceremony, is not related; but the Jews require ten persons as witnesses of it; for they say (p), that "testimonies worthy of belief, in Israel, are ten, the witnesses of the covenant of circumcision are ten, the witnesses of a dead person ten, &c. and at this time also it was usual to give the child a name, which was not by divine appointment, but was a custom that prevailed among them; which took its rise from Abraham, having his name changed at the time when circumcision was enjoined him, Gen 17:5 and from the naming and circumcision of Isaac, mentioned together, . and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father: as the neighbours of Naomi gave a name to the son of Boaz and Ruth, calling him Obed, Rut 4:17. This they took upon them to do, because that Zacharias was deaf and dumb; but why they should call him by his name, cannot well be accounted for, it not being usual to call the father, and the son, by the same name; unless they were desirous of continuing the same name in the family, which had been famous in Israel for a prophet, and a priest: to call children by Gentile names was not lawful. In the Targum on Amo 6:1 it is said, "woe to them that name their children after the names of the Gentiles. (n) Maimon. Hilch. Milah, c. 2. sect. 1, (o) Ib. c. 3. sect. 1, 2, 3. (p) Pirke Eliezer, c. 19.

Luke 1:59

The Birth of John the Baptist

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

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

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.

Bible in Basic English

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;

Douay-Rheims 1899

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.

Free Bible Version

Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.

Geneva Bible 1599

And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], after the name of his father.

Translation for Translators

Seven days later they gathered together for the ceremony for circumcising the baby to show that he belonged to God. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

World English Bible

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

Young's Literal Translation

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,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Luke 1:59

Verse

Context

The Birth of John the Baptist

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Luke 1:59

The Birth of John the Baptist

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes