Luke 1:62

62 And they beckoned to his father, what he would that he were called. [Soothly they made a sign to his father, whom he would him to be called.]

Luke 1:62 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:62

And they made signs to his father
Who was deaf, as well as dumb; otherwise there would have been no occasion to have signs made to him: and so the word used, in ( Luke 1:20 ) signifies both deaf and dumb. These signs were made by hands or head; for such used to be made to a dumb man. According to the canon ^F17, a dumb man nods, and (zmrnw) "and is nodded", or "beckoned to": and which beckoning one of the commentators ^F18 says, is a sign which is expressed either by the hands or head. Such a method as these took with Zacharias, about the name of his son, is directed to in case of a father's deafness, in relation to knowing who is his firstborn; ^F19

``father that is dumb, they search or examine him in the way they search for divorces; if he makes signs, or writes, that this is his firstborn, lo! this takes the double portion.''

How he would have him called;
by what name, Zacharias or John; and they were right in applying to him, to whom it most properly belonged, to give a name to his child.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Misn. Gittin, c. 5. sect 7.
F18 Bartenora in ib.
F19 Maimon. Hitch. Nechalot, c. 2. sect. 15, & 4. 1.

Luke 1:62 In-Context

60 And his mother answered, and said, Nay, but he shall be called John.

61 And they said to her, For no man is in thy kindred, that is called [by] this name.

62 And they beckoned to his father, what he would that he were called. [Soothly they made a sign to his father, whom he would him to be called.]

63 And he asking a stylus [a pointel], wrote, saying, John is his name. And all men wondered.

64 And at once his mouth was opened [Forsooth his mouth was opened anon], and his tongue, and he spake, and blessed God.