And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that "they called him" isn't a simple statement of fact, but a description of an attempted naming. The original Greek indicates they were in the process of calling him Zechariah, a common practice to honor the father, but the story is about to reveal God's surprising choice for this child's name.
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The passage describes the expected cultural and religious practices surrounding the birth of a child. According to Jewish law, an infant was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth, marking his entry into God's covenant. The community gathered, and as was customary, they intended to name the child after his father, Zechariah.
Why the eighth day? This wasn't just any birthday party. It was a deeply meaningful ritual marking a child's entry into God's covenant family.
The eighth day after birth was the appointed time for circumcision, a foundational practice in the Abrahamic covenant. This wasn't arbitrary; it was divinely ordained.
They 'would have called him Zechariah'—but something tells us this wasn't going to be that simple. What does this linguistic detail reveal?
The Greek word used here, translated as 'they called,' is in the imperfect tense. This grammatical choice is significant, suggesting an action that was intended or begun but not completed.
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Understand the original words
peritemno · Greek Verb
The covenantal rite involving the removal of the foreskin, commanded by God to Abraham as a sign of the covenant between God and the people of Israel, representing the setting apart of the individual to the Lord.
The verse grounds itself in ancient Jewish tradition, particularly the rite of circumcision on the eighth day and the practice of naming the child at this time. The family's initial impulse to name the child after his father, Zechariah, reflects a common custom of honoring lineage, but this is soon challenged by divine intervention.
c. 1400 BC
God Institutes Circumcision
God commands Abraham to circumcise himself and all males in his household on the eighth day after birth, establishing it as a sign of the covenant. This ritual becomes a foundational practice for the Israelite people.
c. 1400 BC
Naming and Circumcision Custom
During the initial institution of circumcision, Abram's name is changed to Abraham and Sarai's to Sarah, indicating a connection between the naming of a child and the act of circumcision.
c. 730 BC
Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers and deports the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event highlights the fragility of national and religious identity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to the exile of the southern kingdom of Judah. This catastrophic event deeply impacts Jewish identity and religious practice.
c. 5th-1st Century BC
Post-Exilic Jewish Customs Develop
Following the return from exile, Jewish customs, including the importance of lineage and the practice of naming children during circumcision, solidify.
c. 2 BC— this verse
Birth of John the Baptist
John the Baptist is born to elderly parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, under miraculous circumstances announced by the angel Gabriel.
This passage establishes the divine command for circumcision on the eighth day, directly informing the practice described in Luke 1:59.
Genesis 21:3-4Here, we see the custom of naming a child at the time of his circumcision, mirroring the event in Luke 1:59 where the name is given during the rite.
Leviticus 12:3This Levitical law reiterates the requirement for circumcision on the eighth day, underscoring the scriptural basis for the timing in Luke's account.
Philippians 3:5Paul mentions his own circumcision on the eighth day, providing a New Testament example that aligns with the practice observed for John the Baptist.
cambridgeLuke 1:59: "And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father."
59 . on the eighth day ] According to the ordinance of Genesis 17:12 ; Leviticus 12:3 ;— Php 3:5 . The name was then given, because at the institution of circumcision the names of Abram and Sarai had been changed, Genesis 17:15 . The rite was invested with extreme solemnity, and in later times a chair was always put for the prophet Elijah. they…
jfbLuke 1:57-80: "Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son."
Lu 1:57-80. Birth and Circumcision of John—Song of Zacharias and Progress of the Child.
What's striking here is that "they called him" isn't a simple statement of fact, but a description of an attempted naming. The original Greek indicates they were in the process of calling him Zechariah, a common practice to honor the father, but the story is about to reveal God's surprising choice for this child's name.
The passage describes the expected cultural and religious practices surrounding the birth of a child. According to Jewish law, an infant was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth, marking his entry into God's covenant. The community gathered, and as was customary, they intended to name the child after his father, Zechariah.
The passage describes the expected cultural and religious practices surrounding the birth of a child. According to Jewish law, an infant was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth, marking his entry into God's covenant. The community gathered, and as was customary, they intended to name the child after his father, Zechariah.
"And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father," — What's striking here is that "they called him" isn't a simple statement of fact, but a description of an attempted naming. The original Greek indicates they were in the process of calling him Zec…
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Last reviewed October 2026