Luke 1 · Verse 59

Luke 1:59

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.
Luke 1:59, King James Version

Luke 1:59 in other translations

BSBOn the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
WEBOn the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd 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,
DARBYAnd it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.
BBEAnd 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;
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Luke 1:59 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 1:57-80. Birth and Circumcision of John--Song of Zacharias and Progress of the Child.

59. eighth day--The law (Ge 17:12) was observed, even though the eighth day after birth should be a sabbath (Joh 7:23; and see Php 3:5). called him--literally, "were calling"--that is, (as we should say) "were for calling." The naming of children at baptism has its origin in the Jewish custom at circumcision (Ge 21:3, 4); and the names of Abram and Sarai were changed at its first performance (Ge 17:5, 15).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 59. On the eighth day. This was the day on which it was required to circumcise children, Gen 21:4.

And they called him Zacharias. The name of the child was commonly given at the time of the circumcision, Gen 21:3,4. The name commonly given to the eldest son was that of the father.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 59 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 1Pet 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:57-66

In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:57-66 →

Luke 1:59 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
ἐγένετοegenetoit came to passG1096
ἐνenonG1722
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ἡμέρᾳhēmeradayG2250
τῇtēatheG3588
ὀγδόῃogdoēeighthG3590
ἦλθονēlthonthey cameG2064
περιτεμεῖνperitemeinto circumciseG4059
τὸtotheG3588
παιδίονpaidionchildG3813
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐκάλουνekalounwere callingG2564
αὐτὸautoitG846
ἐπὶepiafterG1909
τῷtōtheG3588
ὀνόματιonomatinameG3686
τοῦtouof theG3588
πατρὸςpatrosfatherG3962
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
Ζαχαρίαν.ZacharianZechariah.G2197

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

Cross references for Luke 1:59

  • Genesis 17:12

    And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

  • Leviticus 12:3

    And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

  • Luke 2:21

    And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

  • Philippians 3:5

    Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

  • Acts 7:8

    And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

  • Genesis 21:3-4

    And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:21; Ge 17:12; 21:3,4; Le 12:3; Ac 7:8; Php 3:5

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

Context

  • Luke 1:58

    And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

  • Luke 1:59

    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.

  • Luke 1:60

    And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:59 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció, que al octavo día vinieron para circuncidar al niño; y le llamaban del nombre de su padre, Zacarías.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva qu’au huitième jour ils vinrent pour circoncire le petit enfant; et ils l’appelaient Zacharie, du nom de son père.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah am achten Tage, da kamen sie, das Kindlein zu beschneiden; und sie nannten es nach dem Namen seines Vaters: Zacharias.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.