Luke 1:60
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 10
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀποκριθεῖσα
answered
G611
ἀποκριθεῖσα
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
2 of 10
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 10
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μήτηρ
mother
G3384
μήτηρ
mother
Strong's:
G3384
Word #:
4 of 10
a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 10
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀλλὰ
so but
G235
ἀλλὰ
so but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Cross References
Luke 1:13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.2 Samuel 12:25And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.Isaiah 8:3And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
Historical Context
In patriarchal Jewish society, a mother publicly contradicting naming customs—especially without the father speaking—would have been shocking. Elisabeth's boldness demonstrated the strength of her conviction that this name came from God, not human preference.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we maintain obedience to God's revealed will despite social pressure?
- What does the name 'John' (God is gracious) teach about his ministry and message?
- When is it appropriate to firmly resist even well-meaning counsel?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Elisabeth's decisive response—'Not so; but he shall be called John'—demonstrates submission to divine revelation over cultural expectation. Her certainty and the future tense 'shall be' indicate settled conviction based on God's word through Gabriel. That Elisabeth knew the name proves Zacharias had communicated (likely in writing) what the angel commanded. Her willingness to contradict family and community expectations shows that obedience to God transcends social pressure. The name John (Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') proclaims the theological meaning of his birth and foreshadows his message of repentance and divine grace. Elisabeth's firmness models that knowing God's will requires standing against even well-meaning opposition.