^1:63He¹⁹² asked for a writing tablet¹⁹³ and wrote,¹⁹⁴ “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.¹⁹⁵^1:64Immediately¹⁹⁶ Zechariah’s¹⁹⁷ mouth was opened and his tongue¹⁹⁸ released,¹⁹⁹ and he spoke, blessing God. ^1:65All²⁰⁰ their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. ^1:66All²⁰¹ who heard these things²⁰² kept them in their hearts,²⁰³ saying, “What then will this child be?”²⁰⁴ For the Lord’s hand²⁰⁵ was indeed with him.

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Footnotes

192 Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
193 The writing tablet requested by Zechariah would have been a wax tablet.
194 Grk “and wrote, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant is English and has not been translated.
195 The response, they were all amazed, expresses a mixture of surprise and reflection in this setting where they were so certain of what the child’s name would be.
196 Grk “And immediately.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
197 Grk “his”; the referent (Zechariah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
198 The mention of both mouth and tongue here is a figure called zeugma and emphasizes that the end of the temporary judgment came instantly and fully upon Zechariah’s expression of faith in naming the child. He had learned to trust and obey God during his short period of silence. He had learned from his trial.
199 “Released” is implied; in the Greek text both στόμα (stoma) and γλῶσσα (glōssa) are subjects of ἀνεῴχθη (aneōchthē), but this would be somewhat redundant in English.
200 Grk “And all.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Fear is the emotion that comes when one recognizes something unusual, even supernatural, has taken place.
201 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. A new sentence was begun at this point in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence.
202 Grk “heard them”; the referent (these things, from the previous verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
203 Grk “heart.” The term “heart” (καρδία, kardia) could also be translated as “mind,” or “thoughts,” and the entire phrase be rendered as “kept them in mind,” “thought about,” or the like. But the immediate context is clearly emotive, suggesting that much more is at work than merely the mental processes of thinking or reasoning about “these things.” There is a sense of joy and excitement (see the following question, “What then will this child be?”) and even fear. Further, the use of καρδία in 1:66 suggests connections with the same term in 2:19 where deep emotion is being expressed as well. Therefore, recognizing both the dramatic nature of the immediate context and the literary connections to 2:19, the translation renders the term in 1:66 as “hearts” to capture both the cognitive and emotive aspects of the people’s response.
204 Or “what manner of child will this one be?”
205 The reference to the Lord’s hand indicates that the presence, direction, and favor of God was with him (Acts 7:9b).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

NLTNew Living Translation

He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they were all astonished. And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak, praising God. And fear came on all those who lived near them, and in all the hill country of Judea all these events were discussed. And all those who heard kept these things in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be? For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him!”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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