Luke 1 · Verse 20

Luke 1:20

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Luke 1:20, King James Version

Luke 1:20 in other translations

BSBAnd now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
WEBBehold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
ASVAnd behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
YLTand lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'
DARBYand behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.
BBENow, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.
WebsterAnd behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.

What does Luke 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. dumb--speechless. not able--deprived of the power of speech (Lu 1:64). He asked a sign, and now he got it. until the day that these things shall be performed--See on Lu 1:64.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Because thou believest not (z) , &c. This was both a sign and a judgment-- a sign that he had come from God, and that the thing would be fulfilled; and a judgment for not giving credit to what he had said. There is no sin in the sight of God more aggravated than unbelief. When GOD speaks, man should believe; nor can he that will not believe escape punishment. God speaks only truth, and we should believe him. God speaks only what is for our good, and it is right that we should suffer if we do not credit what he says.

(z) Eze 3:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Thou shalt be dumb - Σιωπων silent; this translation is literal; the angel immediately explains it, thou shalt not be able to speak. Dumbness ordinarily proceeds from a natural imperfection or debility of the organs of speech; in this case there was no natural weakness or unfitness in those organs; but, for his rash and unbelieving speech, silence is imposed upon him by the Lord, and he shall not be able to break it, till the power that has silenced him gives him again the permission to speak! Let those who are intemperate in the use of their tongues behold here the severity and mercy of the Lord; nine months' silence for one intemperate speech! Many, by giving way to the language of unbelief, have lost the language of praise and thanksgiving for months, if not years!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:5-25

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:5-25 →

Luke 1:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
ἔσῃesēyou will beG1510
σιωπῶνsiōpōnsilentG4623
καὶkaiandG2532
μὴmēnotG3361
δυνάμενοςdunamenosableG1410
λαλῆσαιlalēsaito speakG2980
ἄχριachriuntilG891
ἧςhēsthatG3739
ἡμέραςhēmerasdayG2250
γένηταιgenētaimay happenG1096
ταῦτα,tautathese things,G3778
ἀνθ᾽anth᾽in return forG473
ὧνhōnthatG3739
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐπίστευσαςepisteusasyou did believeG4100
τοῖςtoisin theG3588
λόγοιςlogoiswordsG3056
μουmouof mineG3165
οἵτινεςoitineswhichG3748
πληρωθήσονταιplērōthēsontaiwill be fulfilledG4137
εἰςeisinG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
καιρὸνkaironseasonG2540
αὐτῶν.¶autōnof them.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:20

  • Ezekiel 3:26

    And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

  • Ezekiel 24:27

    In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  • 2 Timothy 2:13

    If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

  • Luke 1:22

    And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

  • Titus 1:2

    In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

  • Revelation 3:19

    As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

  • Luke 1:45

    And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

  • Genesis 18:10-15

    And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? …

  • 2 Kings 7:19

    And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

  • Isaiah 7:9

    And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

  • Luke 1:62-63

    And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thou shalt.
22,62,63; Ex 4:11; Eze 3:26; 24:27
dumb.[Siopao ,] silent; for in this case, though there was no natural imperfection or debility of the organs of speech, as in dumbness, yet, thou shalt not be able to speak. This was at once a proof of the severity and mercy of God: of severity, in condemning him to nine months' silence for his unbelief; of mercy, in rendering his punishment temporary, and the means of making others rejoice in the events predicted.
because.
45; Ge 18:10-15; Nu 20:12; 2Ki 7:2,19; Isa 7:9; Mr 9:19; 16:14
Re 3:19
which.
Ro 3:3; 2Ti 2:13; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:19

    And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  • Luke 1:20

    And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

  • Luke 1:21

    And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y he aquí estarás mudo y no podrás hablar, hasta el día que esto sea hecho, por cuanto no creíste á mis palabras, las cuales se cumplirán á su tiempo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et voici, tu seras muet et tu ne pourras point parler jusqu’au jour où ces choses arriveront, parce que tu n’as pas cru mes paroles qui s’accompliront en leur temps.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und siehe, du wirst stumm sein und nicht sprechen können bis zu dem Tage, da dieses geschehen wird, weil du meinen Worten nicht geglaubt hast, die zu ihrer Zeit werden erfüllt werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.