What Does Luke 1:13 Mean in the King James?

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The answer begins with being heard: the Greek says the prayer is heeded before the promised son is even named.

THE MEANING

Your waiting can hold an answer before you can see its shape: the prayer is heard, then a child is promised. The promise arrives as a particular life, called by name. Fear stands in the same moment as assurance, without having to be pretended away.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that a quiet or delayed answer proves your prayer has gone unheard.

THE ROOT

εἰσηκούσθη

eisēkousthē

GROWS FROM

ἀκου-

akou-

To hear, listen, or give heed.

The verb is a form of ⁨εἰσακούω⁩ (eisakouō), a compound built on the Greek hearing-root ⁨ἀκου-⁩ (akou-). Here the prayer is not merely sound in the air: it is heard with heed, while its visible answer is still ahead.

ALSO GROWS

akouō: Hear, listen.

ἀκούω

The base verb beneath “is heard” makes listening the seed of the announcement.

akoē: Hearing; what is heard or reported.

ἀκοή

This related form carries hearing from the act of listening into what reaches the hearer.

eisakouō: Hear, heed, hear favorably.

εἰσακούω

This is the compound verb whose passive form says the prayer has been heard.

φοβοῦ

phobou

GROWS FROM

φοβ-

phob-

The Greek stem for fear or dread.

The command “Fear not” uses the same stem that names fear itself; the text meets fear directly rather than pretending it is absent. It places that fear beside the assurance that the petition is heard, while its outcome is still unfolding.

ALSO GROWS

phobos: Fear, dread.

φόβος

The noun names the feeling that the command addresses.

phobeomai: To fear, be afraid.

φοβέομαι

This verb shares the stem of ⁨φοβοῦ⁩ (phobou), the form spoken to Zacharias.

ὄνομα

onoma

GROWS FROM

ὀνομα-

onoma-

Name; the identifying nature carried in a name.

The Greek word for “name” introduces John as more than an unnamed outcome to a prayer. ⁨Ἰωάννης⁩ (Iōannēs) reflects Hebrew ⁨יוֹחָנָן⁩ (Yohanan), “YHWH has shown favor,” so the name carries the nature of the answer into the life that is promised.

ALSO GROWS

onomazō: To name, call by name.

ὀνομάζω

This related form joins the name itself to the act of naming.

onomastos: Named, renowned.

ὀνομαστός

This form shows how a name identifies the one who bears it.

THE PATTERN

A promised child turns an unseen answer into a named life whose name carries the moment’s meaning.

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:20 · KJVHannah’s petition becomes a son, and Samuel’s name is explicitly tied to her asking.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21 · KJVJesus’ name carries his work of deliverance, so the promised child’s name declares the nature of the answer.

THE THREAD

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

Luke 1:63 · KJV

Luke repeats the Greek noun ⁨ὄνομα⁩ (onoma), moving from the promised name to the written name after the child’s birth. ⁨Ἰωάννης⁩ (Iōannēs) reflects Hebrew ⁨יוֹחָנָן⁩ (Yohanan), “YHWH has shown favor,” so the name puts the announcement’s favor into a life.

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