English Standard Version
Luke 1:20
20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
Luke 1:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
- New International Version (NIV)And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
Context of Luke 1:20
18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
Read all of Luke 1Luke 1:20 word by word
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθ᾽ ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- thou shalt beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- dumbσιωπάωsiōpaō · be quietG4623
- notμήmē · notG3361
- ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- to speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- untilἄχριachri achris · untilG891
- the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- shall be performedγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- becauseἀντίanti · forG473
- thou believestπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- notοὐou · noG3756
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- wordsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- wordsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- shall be fulfilledπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- seasonκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
Cross-references for Luke 1:20
- Luke 1:22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
- Exodus 4:11Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
- Ezekiel 3:26And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house.
- Ezekiel 24:27On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord."
- Luke 1:45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
- Genesis 18:10The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
- Numbers 20:12And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."
- 2 Kings 7:2Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, "If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" But he said, "You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
- Isaiah 7:9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.'"
- Mark 9:19And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me."
- Mark 16:14Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
- Revelation 3:19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
- Romans 3:3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
- 2 Timothy 2:13if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
- Hebrews 6:18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Commentaries on Luke 1:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Thou shalt be dumb - silent; this translation is literal; the angel immediately explains it, thou shalt not be able to speak. Dumbness ordinarily proceeds from a natural imperfection or debility of the organs of speech; in this case there was no natural weakness or unfitness in those organs; but, for his rash and unbelieving speech, silence is imposed upon him by the Lord, and he shall not be able to break it, till the power that has silenced him gives…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Because thou believest not - This was both a sign and a judgment - a sign that he had come from God, and that the thing would be fulfilled: and a judgment for not giving credit to what he had said. There is no sin in the sight of God more aggravated than unbelief. When God speaks; man should believe; nor can he that “will not” believe escape punishment. God speaks only truth, and we should believe Him. God speaks only what is for our good, and it is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-25Verses 5-25 The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20now you will be silent and unable to speak: God's discipline for Zechariah’s lack of faith also confirmed the prophecy. The Greek word translated as "unable to speak" in 1:22 can also mean "deaf" (7:22; compare 1:62). Zechariah is contrasted with Mary, the mother of Jesus, who responded with faith (1:38).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. dumb--speechless. not able--deprived of the power of speech (Lu 1:64). He asked a sign, and now he got it. until the day that these things shall be performed--See on Lu 1:64.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 1:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries