Luke 1 64

Luke 1:64 kjv

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Luke 1:64 nkjv

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

Luke 1:64 niv

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Luke 1:64 esv

And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Luke 1:64 nlt

Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 64 Meaning

Luke 1:64 describes the immediate, divinely orchestrated restoration of speech to Zechariah, the priest and father of John the Baptist, after a prolonged period of divinely imposed silence. Upon naming his son John, in accordance with the angelic prophecy, Zechariah's tongue was supernaturally freed, enabling him to speak again, and his first utterance was an outpouring of praise and blessing to God. This moment signified God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word and Zechariah's restored faith and obedience.

Luke 1 64 Context

Luke chapter 1 focuses on the miraculous circumstances surrounding the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, serving as a divinely ordered prologue to the Gospel. Zechariah, an old priest, was rendered speechless by the angel Gabriel for his doubt regarding the prophecy of his elderly wife Elizabeth conceiving a son (Luke 1:20). His silence served as a sign and a period for reflection and waiting on God. This verse, Luke 1:64, occurs immediately after Zechariah, through writing, confirms the naming of his son as "John," a name commanded by the angel and unusual for their family. This act of obedience signals the end of his judgment. The opening of Zechariah's mouth and tongue is the immediate, miraculous reversal of the sign, confirming God's power and faithfulness, and validates John's divine calling. This event occurred in a cultural context where unusual births and prophetic fulfillments were carefully observed as signs of God's activity, generating much awe and discussion in the Judean hills.

Luke 1 64 Word analysis

• And immediately (Καὶ παραχρῆμα - Kai parachrēma):

  • Parachrēma means "forthwith," "at once," "without delay."
  • Significance: Highlights the instantaneous nature of the divine act, emphasizing God's direct and decisive intervention. There was no gradual recovery, but an immediate restoration, underscoring the miraculous and undeniable fulfillment of the angelic prophecy (Lk 1:20). It speaks to the sovereignty and power of God.

• his mouth was opened (ἠνοίχθη τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ - ēnoichthē to stoma autou):

  • Ēnoichthē is the aorist passive indicative of anoigō, "to open." The passive voice emphasizes that the action was performed upon Zechariah, not by him.
  • Significance: This was a supernatural, divine act, reversing the earlier divine judgment. It indicates the removal of the physical and spiritual impediment. The mouth, which was closed by God, was now opened by God, symbolizing an overcoming of doubt and a readiness for prophetic utterance.

• and his tongue loosed (καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ ἐλύθη - kai hē glōssa autou eluthē):

  • Eluthē is the aorist passive indicative of lyō, "to loose," "release," "set free."
  • Significance: While "mouth opened" implies general speaking ability, "tongue loosed" specifically points to the restoration of articulation and vocal function, implying a complete return to normal, clear speech. It highlights the divine precision in removing the impediment that affected his very tongue, directly related to speech production.

• and he spoke, blessing God (καὶ ἐλάλει εὐλογῶν τὸν Θεόν - kai elalei eulogōn ton Theon):

  • Elalei is the imperfect tense of laleō, "to speak." The imperfect tense can denote continuous or repeated action, suggesting an initial outburst followed by a continued state of speaking.
  • Eulogōn is the present active participle of eulogeō, "to bless," "praise," "speak well of."
  • Significance: This highlights the immediate, purpose-driven nature of Zechariah's restored speech. His very first words, after a long silence imposed by God, were not questions or complaints but an outpouring of worship and praise to God. This immediate blessing demonstrates Zechariah's restored faith, understanding of God's faithfulness, and aligns his will with divine purpose (Ps 51:15). It set the tone for his later, more extensive prophecy (the Benedictus) in Luke 1:68-79.

Luke 1 64 Bonus section

The instantaneous opening of Zechariah's mouth can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus' miracles of opening the eyes of the blind (Jn 9), ears of the deaf (Mk 7), and healing speech impediments (Mk 7:31-37). It establishes a divine pattern: God removes physical limitations to reveal spiritual truth or manifest His glory. Zechariah's silence, though a consequence of unbelief, ultimately led to a period of deep reflection that culminated in glorious praise, suggesting that sometimes God's corrective measures bring about a profound recalibration of faith and worship. This event served not only as a personal transformation for Zechariah but also as a public sign to the community of the unique hand of God in the nascent stages of salvation history. The focus on "blessing God" sets the thematic tone for Luke's Gospel, where glorifying and praising God is a recurring motif (e.g., the shepherds, Simeon, healed individuals, the disciples at the ascension).

Luke 1 64 Commentary

Luke 1:64 encapsulates a pivotal moment of divine reversal and the vindication of God's faithfulness. Zechariah's inability to speak was a sign and a judgment for his momentary unbelief regarding the angel's prophecy. His restoration of speech, explicitly tied to his act of obedience in naming his son John as commanded, highlights God's justice intertwined with His grace and mercy. The "immediately" (parachrēma) underscores the undeniable, miraculous nature of the event, leaving no room for doubt about its divine origin. This wasn't a gradual recovery but an instant unblocking of the very instruments of speech – his mouth and tongue. Zechariah's immediate response was an outpouring of blessing God, a profound act of worship. This signifies his complete submission and acknowledgment of God's sovereign hand, fulfilling Psalm 51:15 and demonstrating that when God "opens the mouth," it is to declare His praise. This public sign, following the unusual naming of the child, created an atmosphere of fear (reverent awe) and widespread discussion (Lk 1:65-66), further setting the stage for the unique ministry of John the Baptist and the subsequent arrival of the Messiah. It confirms that God's word is living and powerful, and nothing is impossible for Him.