Luke 1:59-61

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 1:59 tn Grk “And it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
2. Luke 1:59 sn They were following OT law (Lev 12:3) which prescribed that a male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day.
3. Luke 1:59 tn This could be understood as a conative imperfect, expressing an unrealized desire (“they were trying to name him”). It has been given more of a voluntative nuance in the translation.
4. Luke 1:60 tn Grk “And,” but with clearly contrastive emphasis in context.
5. Luke 1:60 tn Grk “his mother answering, said.” The combination of participle and finite verb is redundant in English and has been simplified to “replied” in the translation.
6. Luke 1:60 tn This future passive indicative verb has imperatival force and thus has been translated “he must be named.”
7. Luke 1:60 sn “No! He must be named John.” By insisting on the name specified by the angel, Elizabeth (v. 60) and Zechariah (v. 63) have learned to obey God (see Luke 1:13).
8. Luke 1:61 tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
9. Luke 1:61 tn The word “but” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
10. Luke 1:61 tn Grk “There is no one from your relatives who is called by this name.”