Luke 1:22

22 But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

Luke 1:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:22

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them
Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for:

and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple:
which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or of his lips; for the signs of a dumb man are distinguished into (hzymr) , and (huypq) ^F17; the one is a sign which is expressed by the head and hands; and the other is a sign expressed by the lips: hence that rule, ^F18

``a dumb man beckons, and is beckoned to; and Ben Bethira says, he moves his lips, and lips are moved to him:''

and remained speechless; to the time the angel fixed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bartenora in Misa. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 7.
F18 Misn. ib.

Luke 1:22 In-Context

20 and 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.

21 And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

22 But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

23 And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

24 Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Footnotes

• [a]. Naos, the shrine.
• [b]. As 'know,' Matt. 7.16.