Luk 1:61-63 | NETfull | STEP | They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.”

Luke 1:61-63

61 They ^{▼▼ Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} said to her, “But ^{▼▼ The word “but” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.} none of your relatives bears this name.” ^{▼▼ Grk “There is no one from your relatives who is called by this name.”} 62 So ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action described.} they made signs to the baby’s ^{▼▼ Grk “his”; the referent (the baby) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} father, ^{▼▼ The crowd was sure there had been a mistake, so they appealed to the child’s father. But custom was not to be followed here, since God had spoken. The fact they needed to signal him (made signs) shows that he was deaf as well as unable to speak.} inquiring what he wanted to name his son. ^{▼▼ Grk “what he might wish to call him.”} 63 He ^{▼▼ Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} asked for a writing tablet ^{▼▼ The writing tablet requested by Zechariah would have been a wax tablet.} and wrote, ^{▼▼ Grk “and wrote, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant is English and has not been translated.} “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. ^{▼▼ The response, they were all amazed, expresses a mixture of surprise and reflection in this setting where they were so certain of what the child’s name would be.}