Luke 1:59

Modern

On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And it came to pass on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him after the name of his father Zechariah.

Latin

Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.

Greek

English

On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

God commanded every Israelite to circumcise their boys when eight days old (Genesis 17:9–14; Leviticus 12:3). Circumcision marked the child's entry into Israel's covenant community.
they were going to name him after his father Zechariah: Naming a child after a relative was common. The family and friends were surprised because John was not the name of any of his relatives.

Theme notes and profiles

Genesis 17:12
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
Philippians 3:5
…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Luke 2:21
When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
Genesis 21:3–4
And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him.
Acts 7:8
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Zechariah: Priest, father of John the Baptist