And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah's question, "How shall I know this?" reveals a deep-seated doubt that contrasts sharply with Mary's "How shall this be?"—hers was a question of how, while his was a question of if. While Abraham and Gideon also asked for signs, Zechariah's objection stemmed not from a need for reassurance, but from a failure to trust God’s power over natural limitations, implying a lack of faith in the very God he served.
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel Gabriel has just announced to Zechariah, a priest, that his wife Elizabeth will miraculously conceive a son in their old age, who will be a great prophet. Zechariah, struggling with the physical impossibility and the shock of the divine encounter, questions how he can be sure this announcement is true, citing their advanced age. This immediate exchange sets up a stark contrast with Mary's later encounter with Gabriel, where her question focuses on the manner of conception rather than doubting the possibility itself.
Zechariah and Mary both received impossible news from angels. Yet, their questions to Gabriel couldn't be more different. What does this reveal about their hearts?
The angel Gabriel brings astonishing news to both Zechariah and Mary: they will have sons against all natural odds. Zechariah, an elderly priest, asks, "How shall I know this?" (Luke 1:18). This question comes from a place of doubt and disbelief. He focuses on the impossibility of the event, seeking a logical explanation or proof based on his own limited understanding and experience.
Later, Mary, a young virgin, hears she will conceive the Son of God. Her question is, "How shall this be, since I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34). While also questioning the method, Mary's tone is different. It's not a challenge to God's power but a humble inquiry about the process, assuming God's promise will indeed be fulfilled.
This contrast highlights a crucial aspect of faith: it's not about understanding how God will do the impossible, but about trusting that He can and will. Zechariah's question, rooted in his age and his wife's condition, reveals a mind focused on natural limitations rather than divine power. Mary's, though also seeking understanding, operates from a foundation of trust in God's word.
Zechariah had prayed for a child, yet when the promise came, his logical mind kicked in. What happens when our reasoning clashes with God's promises?
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It might seem harsh that God punishes Zechariah with muteness for his doubt. After all, he was old, and his wife was past childbearing age – a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. He wasn't denying God's existence or power in general, but he was struggling to accept this specific promise in light of natural reality.
This is where faith is truly tested. Faith doesn't require us to ignore reality, but it calls us to believe that God's power transcends our reality. Zechariah’s mistake wasn't in acknowledging his and his wife's age, but in letting that logical fact override the divine promise. He saw the natural 'how' and forgot the supernatural 'Who'.
God's response emphasizes that His promises are not contingent on human reason or capability. They are based on His faithfulness and power. When we allow our logical assessments of 'how' to paralyze our belief 'that', we grieve the Spirit and miss out on experiencing God's direct intervention.
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
A messenger of God; a spiritual being created by God to serve Him, carry out His commands, and reveal His will to humans.
Zechariah's priestly service in the Jerusalem Temple, a tradition stretching back to Moses and re-established after the Babylonian exile, places his encounter with Gabriel within the context of ancient Jewish worship and messianic expectation under Roman occupation.
c. 1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God establishes the Mosaic covenant with Israel, including laws for the Levitical priesthood, which would be served by families like Zechariah's for centuries.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophets Warn of Exile
Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah call Israel to repentance, warning of coming judgment and exile due to persistent disobedience.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile many of the people, ending the Davidic monarchy and priestly services in the Temple.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, restoring the framework for Jewish religious life and the priesthood.
c. 20 BC
Herod the Great Reigns
Herod the Great, a non-Jewish ruler appointed by Rome, begins his reign over Judea, a period marked by political tension and attempts to curry favor with the Jewish people, including extensive Temple renovations.
c. 6 BC - 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
The miraculous birth of Jesus in Bethlehem occurs during the reign of Herod the Great, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
c. AD 6— this verse
Archelaus Deposed, Judea becomes Roman Province
Judea is placed under direct Roman governance, appointing prefects and procurators. This heightened Roman presence creates a volatile political climate.
Like Zechariah, Abraham is confronted with a seemingly impossible promise of a child in old age, and his initial reaction is disbelief, highlighting the human struggle with God's extraordinary plans.
Romans 4:18-21This passage contrasts Abraham's steadfast faith in God's power to bring life from the dead with Zechariah's questioning, emphasizing that true faith looks beyond natural limitations.
Judges 6:36-37Gideon, like Zechariah, asks for a sign to confirm God's word, but his request is framed as seeking understanding rather than outright disbelief, showing different ways people respond to divine messages.
Luke 1:34Mary's question, 'How shall this be?' shows a similar initial confusion to Zechariah's, but her tone reflects a willingness to understand the divine method, unlike Zechariah's doubt.
Hebrews 11:11This verse highlights Sarah's faith in receiving strength to conceive in old age, paralleling the miraculous nature of the promise given to Zechariah and Elizabeth, yet differing in their immediate responses.
wesleyLuke 1:18: "And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."
1:18 Zacharias said, Whereby shall I know this? - In how different a spirit did he blessed virgin say, How shall this be? Zacharias disbelieved the fact: Mary had no doubt of the thing; but only inquired concerning the manner of it.
cambridgeLuke 1:18: "And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."
18 . for I am an old man ] So “Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old?” Genesis 17:17 . But he had believed the original promise ( Genesis 15:6 ) though he asked for a confirmation of it ( Luke 1:8 ). “He believed … God who quickeneth the dead,” Romans 4:17 .
Zechariah's question, "How shall I know this?" reveals a deep-seated doubt that contrasts sharply with Mary's "How shall this be?"—hers was a question of how, while his was a question of if. While Abraham and Gideon also asked for signs, Zechariah's objection stemmed not from a need for reassurance, but from a failure to trust God’s power over natural limitations, implying a lack of faith in the very God he served.
The angel Gabriel has just announced to Zechariah, a priest, that his wife Elizabeth will miraculously conceive a son in their old age, who will be a great prophet. Zechariah, struggling with the physical impossibility and the shock of the divine encounter, questions how he can be sure this announcement is true, citing their advanced age. This immediate exchange sets up a stark contrast with Mary's later encounter with Gabriel, where her question focuses on the manner of conception rather than doubting the possibility itself.
The angel Gabriel has just announced to Zechariah, a priest, that his wife Elizabeth will miraculously conceive a son in their old age, who will be a great prophet. Zechariah, struggling with the physical impossibility and the shock of the divine encounter, questions how he can be sure this announcement is true, citing their advanced age. This immediate exchange sets up a stark contrast with Mary's later encounter with Gabriel, where her question focuses on the manner of conception rather than doubting the possibility itself.
"And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”" — Zechariah's question, "How shall I know this?" reveals a deep-seated doubt that contrasts sharply with Mary's "How shall this be?"—hers was a question of how, while his was a question of if. Whil…
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Last reviewed October 2026