Bible Strands
Luke 1:60
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elizabeth addresses the relatives and neighbors at the eighth-day circumcision ceremony, rejecting their proposal to name the infant Zechariah.
The words — The Greek terms ἀποκριθεῖσα (apokritheisa) and οὐχί (ouchi) literally render "answering" and "No," marking her direct verbal counter to the assembled crowd.
The thread — This naming dispute aligns with divine interruptions elsewhere, including the angel’s prior instruction in Luke 1:13 to call the child John, the divinely assigned name in 2 Samuel 12:25, and the prophetic naming in Isaiah 8:3.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that the child’s identity is fixed by divine command rather than familial custom, demanding obedience to a revealed name over social expectation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
Cross-references
- Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
- 2 Samuel 12:25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.
- Isaiah 8:3 And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
- Matthew 1:25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
- Luke 1:63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.