The Birth and Naming of John

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy,(A) and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,(B) they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”(C)

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father(D) to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened(E) and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him(F) took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(G) and prophesied:(H)

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,(I)
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.(J)
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us(K)
in the house of his servant David,(L)
70 just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;(M)
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors(N)
and remembered his holy covenant(O)
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,(P)
to grant that we,
74 having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,(Q)
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,(R)
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.(S)
78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high(T) will visit us
79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,(U)
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became strong in spirit,[a](V) and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:80 Or strong in the Spirit

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise(A) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”(B)

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62 Then they made signs(C) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”(D) 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,(E) praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea(F) people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.(G)

Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(H) and prophesied:(I)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(J)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.(K)
69 He has raised up a horn[a](L) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David(M)
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),(N)
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors(O)
    and to remember his holy covenant,(P)
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:(Q)
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him(R) without fear(S)
75     in holiness and righteousness(T) before him all our days.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet(U) of the Most High;(V)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,(W)
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,(X)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun(Y) will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,(Z)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”(AA)

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit[b];(AB) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
  2. Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit