What Does Luke 1:63 Mean in the King James?
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
John’s name is a declaration of favor already present, not an empty label.
THE MEANING
The name John carries the sense “YHWH has shown favor.” The written declaration gives that nature a public voice, and the people’s astonishment marks the shock of hearing what a name can hold.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A name is only an arbitrary label, carrying nothing of the nature it names.
THE ROOT
ὄνομα
ónoma
GROWS FROM
ὀνομ-
onom-
Name or identifying designation.
This meets the Hebrew שֵׁם (shem, name carrying the nature of what is named): here, naming speaks a nature into the open. The name Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs, John) comes from יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, “YHWH has shown favor”), so the written name declares favor already at work.
ALSO GROWS
onomázō: To name or call by name.
ὀνομάζω
This branch shows that naming is an act of declaring who someone is, as Zechariah does in writing John’s name.
onomastós: Named, renowned.
ὀνομαστός
This branch links a name with the identity by which someone becomes known.
יוֹחָנָן
Yōḥānān
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥ-n-n
To show favor or be gracious.
“John” in this verse is Yōḥānān. The Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, “YHWH has shown favor”) joins יהוה (YHWH, the LORD) to the חנן (ḥ-n-n, show favor) family. Zechariah’s writing makes that favor the nature announced in the child’s name.
ALSO GROWS
ḥēn: Favor.
חֵן
This noun gives the favor in John’s name a clear form: it is received, not achieved.
ḥannūn: Gracious, one who shows favor.
חַנּוּן
This adjective names the quality attributed to the LORD in the meaning of John’s name.
THE PATTERN
A name can disclose the nature and calling being revealed in a person.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.THE THREAD
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.The same Greek word ὄνομα (ónoma, “name”) appears when John’s name is first announced. Luke 1:63 confirms the nature already spoken: יוֹחָנָן (Yōḥānān, “YHWH has shown favor”).
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