Luke 1:60Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Elizabeth declared that his name would be John, acting as a prophetess. Alternatively, it is possible that John himself chose his name; for he passed on the gift of prophecy to his mother.

It is important to note that the blessed Evangelist deemed it necessary to highlight in advance the popular desire to give the child the name Zacharias, so that one might comprehend: the mother did not dismiss the name of an unfamiliar individual, but rather, the Holy Spirit guided her toward the name that had already been revealed prior to Zacharias (cf. Lk. 1:13). Zacharias, being merely a human, was unable to disclose the name of his son to his wife; however, Elizabeth received this revelation through prophecy, knowledge that was beyond what her husband could impart. It is not surprising that the woman firmly insisted on a name she had not previously heard; the Holy Spirit had unveiled it to her and sent an angel to proclaim it. She, who was a herald of Christ, had to honor the divine announcement.

Through the Holy Spirit, she discerned the name of the child. As a result, she affirmed that he should be named John.

Circumcision aptly reflects the image of the Lord's resurrection, as it is performed on the eighth day, following the Sabbath. Just as the former serves as a means to free us from the charge of eternal death, the latter illustrates the complete renewal of everlasting life in our Creator and instills hope within us.

The mother declares, "Let him be named John." Why did she not choose a name for Zechariah? Had she not in some way received from her husband that their son should bear the name 'John'? There was no barrier to her knowing; however, the explanation appears to be different. If Elizabeth had indeed learned this from her husband, the Evangelist would likely have noted it. The name could have resonated deeply within her heart and mind. It might also have been revealed to her through divine inspiration. We know that Elizabeth communicated with Mary via revelation; why couldn’t she have received a similar revelation regarding this name? Additionally, why didn’t her husband find a way to share the name of their soon-to-arrive son with her?

In Nazareth, as Mary's secret was at last revealed, the silence that held Zacharias' lips captive was also broken. Elizabeth gave birth, just as the angel had predicted, to a son. Many relatives and friends gathered to celebrate this remarkable occurrence, reflecting on the timing of the revelation given to Zacharias and recognizing the connection between the two events, yet lacking a complete understanding. Zacharias remained unable to speak, while Elizabeth was neither able nor inclined to share any details without her husband's approval. A week went by, and on the eighth day, the child was to be circumcised and named—a day typically marked by a family gathering among the Jews, composed of at least ten of the closest relatives.

A short time after the departure of Our Lady from Elizabeth's home, Elizabeth welcomed the birth of a son. The elderly parents, as well as their neighbors and relatives, recognized this moment as a unique blessing and grace from God, leading to shared joy among them. On the eighth day following the child's birth, the law required (Leviticus 12:3) that he be circumcised, and tradition also dictated (Genesis 21:3-4) that a name be given. As they debated what to name the child, many suggested Zacharias, following the customary practice of naming a child after a family member. However, Elizabeth, adhering to the angel’s instruction (I, 13), which was unknown to the attendees at the circumcision ceremony, wished to name her son John.

Elisabeth was aware of the name her child was to bear, and when family and friends proposed that the infant be named Zachariah, she firmly replied: No, he shall be called John.

He shall be named John. It is possible that Elizabeth received this name from Zechariah via correspondence. However, some hold the view that it was revealed to her, as Elizabeth does not indicate that her father had specified this name for his son, nor does she claim to have known it from the Angel's message to Zechariah.

On the eighth day, as per tradition, the child underwent circumcision, and they chose a name for the newborn. The mother, privy to her husband’s revelation, wished to name her son John, but the relatives opposed this, asserting that such a name was not found among their family lineage and insisted on honoring the father with the name. Consequently, they turned to Zechariah to resolve the matter. When they inquired through gestures about the name he preferred for his son, Zechariah requested a tablet and inscribed upon it, 'John is his name.' The crowd was taken aback by the alignment of his choice with Elizabeth's.

It is reasonable to believe that the mute Zacharias, whether through gestures or written message, informed his elderly wife about the angel's visit and the directive to name their forthcoming child John, as later referenced in Luke 1:63. However, given the extraordinary nature of this narrative, it is more coherent to consider that Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the child's name as a prophetess, as indicated by Theophilus and Euph. Zigab.