Luke 1:64

Luk 1:64. Αὐτοῦ, of him) i.e. Zacharias.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk_1:64. Ἀνεῴχθη … γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ] a zeugma; in the case of the tongue ἐλύθη may be mentally supplied; comp., on the other hand, Mar_7:35. This recovery of speech is to be regarded not as the effect of lively emotion (Gell. v. 9; Val. Max. i. 8. 3), or of the deliverance of his soul from the reproach that had oppressed it (Lange), or of his own will (Paulus), but of divine causation (Luk_1:20).

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 1:64 . στόμα , γλῶσσα : both connected with ἀνεῴχθη , though the idea of opening is applicable only to the former a case of zeugma . The return of speech a second marvel or rather a third: (1) a child of old parents; (2) the singular name; (3) the recovery of speech, much marked, and commented on among the denizens of the hill country of Judah ( διελαλεῖτο ). φόβος , not terror, but religious awe in presence of the supernatural characteristic of all simple people.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

was restored to its former state, is read in some copies.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

mouth opened immediately--on thus palpably showing his full faith in the vision, for disbelieving which he had been struck dumb (Luk 1:13, Luk 1:20).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 64. The latter clause of the preceding verse should be joined with the beginning of this, as follows: And they marvelled all, for his mouth was opened, c. Every person must see the propriety of putting this clause, And they marvelled all, to the beginning of the 64th verse, instead of leaving it at the end of the 63rd, as in the common version. The people did not wonder because Zacharias said, He shall be called John but because he himself was that instant restored to the use of his speech.

And he spake, and praised God.] In his nine months' silence, he had learned the proper use of his tongue; and God, whose power was discredited by it, is now magnified. Happy they who, in religious matters, only break silence in order to speak of the loving-kindness of the Lord!

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(64) His tongue loosed.—The verb is supplied by the translators because the one previously used applied strictly only to the mouth.

He spake, and praised God.—Probably, in substance, if not in words, as in the hymn that follows. The insertion of the two verses that follow seems to imply that some interval of time passed before its actual utterance.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

64. he spake] Rather, he began to speak (imperfect), the previous verb ‘was opened’ being an aorist.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And his mouth was opened immediately,.... As soon as ever the child was named, and so all things accomplished which the angel had foretold,

and his tongue loosed; the impediments of speech were removed, and the use of his tongue and lips was restored unto him:

and he spake and praised God; for the safe delivery of his wife; for the birth of his son, the forerunner of Christ; for the conception of the Messiah; for God's gracious regards to his church and people, in these instances; and for the restoration of speech and hearing to himself, of which he had been some time deprived for his unbelief.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Ver. 64. And he spake and praised God] And had he had as many tongues as he had hairs upon his head, he could never have sufficiently praised God for his son, but especially for his Saviour. See 1Ti 1:15-17. Zacharias believeth and therefore speaks, Psa 116:10. The tongue of the dumb sings, Isa 35:6.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

His mouth was opened ... - That is, he was enabled to speak. For nine months he had been mute, and it is probable that they supposed that he had been afflicted with a paralytic affection, and that he would not recover. Hence, their amazement when he spoke. For one act of disbelief all this calamity had come upon him, and it had not come without effect. With true gratitude he offered praise to God for the birth of a son, and for his restoration to the blessings of speech.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The angel, Luk 1:20, inflicted the punishment upon him no longer than until what he had said should be performed; now it was performed, God looseth his tongue, and he praiseth God, by the song which we shall by and by meet with.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

64. His mouth was opened immediately—As the want of faith had produced the dumbness, so the act of faith reproduced the speech. Moreover, the sign was needless now that the reality had come.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. This, the first hour of his recovered power, was without doubt the occasion of his giving utterance to the inspired hymn (the Benedictus) which is recorded at length a few verses further on (verses 68-79). It. was the outcome, no doubt, of his silent communing with the Spirit during the long months of his affliction.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Further events:

v. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

v. 65. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

v. 66. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Two strange things connected with the story of John have been noted: The fact that the child was the son of parents past the age of bearing children, and the giving of a name which had not been in use in the family of Zacharias. Here is added the recovery of speech on the part of the father. For the greater part of a year the neighbors had known him to be dumb, and now, with the same suddenness as the calamity had overtaken him, the ban is removed from his tongue, for which he at once gives praise to the Lord. The effect upon the assembled company and upon all the inhabitants of the hill country of Judea was a very deep one. Not superstitious fear, but Revelation rent awe took hold upon them. wherever the story of these events was told, the people were similarly impressed. They felt that such singular and peculiar circumstances surrounded the birth of this child that God Himself must be concerned in his welfare, that all things pointed to an uncommon future for the boy. The usual comment was: What, then, will this child come to? And the people made a mental note of the circumstances with a view of watching further developments. If they had only continued their watchful attitude until John began his ministry on the banks of the Jordan! And the comment of the evangelist justifies the questioning of the people in the hill country; For the hand of the Lord was with him. This sentence sums up the whole history of John’s childhood and anticipates some of the later developments.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

his mouth was opened ... his tongue was freed

These two phrases are word pictures that together emphasize that Zechariah was suddenly able to speak. (See: Idiom and Parallelism)

his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed

These phrases can be stated in active form. AT: "God opened his mouth and freed his tongue" (See: Active or Passive)

Fear came on all who lived around them

"All who lived around Zechariah and Elizabeth were afraid." It may be helpful to state clearly why they were afraid. AT: "All who lived around them were in awe of God because he had done this to Zechariah" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

all who lived around them

The word "all" here is a generalization. AT: "those who lived around them" or "many who lived in that area" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea

The phrase "these matters were spread" is a metaphor for people talking about them. The passive verb here can also be translated in active form. AT: "All these matters were talked about by people throughout all the hill country of Judea" or "People throughout the hill country of Judea talked about all these matters" (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

All who heard them

"All who heard about these matters"

stored them in their hearts

Thinking often about things that have happened is spoken of as putting those things safely in their hearts. AT: "thought carefully about these matters" or "thought a lot about these events" (See: Metaphor)

hearts, saying

"hearts. They asked"

What then will this child become?

"What kind of great person will this baby grow up to be?" It is also possible that this question was meant to be a statement of their surprise at what they had heard about the baby. AT: "What a great man this child will be!" (See: Rhetorical Question)

the hand of the Lord was with him

The phrase "the hand of the Lord" refers to the Lord's power. AT: "the Lord's power was with him" or "the Lord was working in him powerfully" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

praise

God

fear

Judea

hand

lord

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

64. ἀνεῴχθη. The aorist implies that the result was immediate. The A. V[40], “his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed,” translates the zeugma of the original, where ‘was opened’ is connected with both substantives, though it is not accurately applied to γλῶσσα (comp. Mar 7:35). The most marked instances of zeugma in the Greek Testament are in 1Co 3:2, γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα οὐ βρῶμα. 1Ti 4:3, κωλυόντων γαμεῖν, ἀπέχεσθαι βρωμάτων. See Winer, p. 777. For the distinction between zeugma and syllepsis, and English and other illustrations of these figures, see Brief Greek Syntax p. 195.

[40] A. V. Authorised Version.

ἐλάλει. ‘he began to speak’ (imperfect), the previous verb ‘was opened’ being an aorist. For instances of the aorist (of an instant act) followed, as here, by the imperfect of a continuous result see Mat 26:59, ἐζήτουν μαρτυρίαν καὶ οὐχ εὗρον: Luk 8:23, κατέβη λαῖλαψ καὶ συνεπληροῦντο: Mar 7:35; Jas 2:22, &c. Winer, p. 337.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

64.] For now first had the angel’s words, καλέσεις τὸ ὄν. αὐτ. Ἰωάννην, ver. 13, received their fulfilment.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

64. ἀνεῴχθη δὲ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παραχρῆμα . The prophecy which he had refused to believe was now accomplished, and the sign which had been granted to him as a punishment is withdrawn. That the first use of his recovered speech was to continue blessing God (ἐλάλει εὐλογῶν), rather than to complain, is evidence that the punishment had proved a blessing to him. The addition of καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ involves a zeugma, such as is common in all languages: comp. 1Co 3:2; 1Ti 4:3; Win. lxvi. I. e, p. 777. The Complutensian Bible, on the authority of two cursives (140, 251), inserts διηρθρώθη after ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ: see on 2:22. For παραχρῆμα see on 5:25 and comp. 4:39. We are left in doubt as to whether ἐλάλει εὐλογῶν refers to the Benedictus or to some εὐλογία which preceded it. The use of ἐπροφήτευσεν and not εὐλόγησεν in ver. 67 does not prove that two distinct acts of thanksgiving are to be understood. Here Syr-Sin. has “They marvelled all.”

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Immediately [παραχρημα] . Occurring nineteen times in the New Testament, and seventeen of these in Luke. Thirteen of the seventeen are in connection with miracles of healing, or the infliction of disease or death. Used in a similar way by medical writers.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.