Family Names

My uncles were D. T. Raja and D. J. Theodore, and my dad is D. S. Spurgeon. They seem unrelated by the “surnames.” But in my Tamil culture, their father’s name goes first, acting as their surname. The “D” in their names stands for Devadason, my grandfather’s name. This differs from the Western world, where the family or surname goes last.

In Hebrew culture, the standard practice is to include the words – bar, ben, and beth – with someone’s name. The first two meant “son of” and the last “daughter of.” For example, Peter was Simon-bar-Jonah, “Simon son of Jonah” (Matt 16:17). Bethsheva (Bathsheba) meant “daughter of sheva (“oath”).”

Elizabeth was nine months pregnant, and Mariam had left. Her labor began, and she gave birth to a son, as Gabriel promised Zechariah (Luke 1:57). Their neighbors and relatives greatly rejoiced, just as Gabriel promised (1:14), because “the Lord had done great (megalio) mercy to her” (1:58; cp. 1:46).

People receive their names at various times. Our second and third sons were named in the hospital within hours of birth as the nurses wrote their birth certificates. Our oldest son, being adopted, had a different surname at birth and had his name legally changed around six months old. I wasn’t given a name until I was baptized, around one year old. In my culture, children aren’t named until one year old because of the high infant mortality rate.

In ancient Hebrew culture, male children were named on the eighth day while circumcised (female children were named on the 80th day when they were presented to the priests at the temple). Since Zechariah couldn’t speak, they asked Elizabeth if they should call him Zechariah-ben-Zechariah, i.e., repeat his father’s name (1:59). This was a common custom.

Zechariah might have doubted Gabriel at first. But with his inability to speak and Elizabeth’s pregnancy, he was convinced of the prophecy and instructed Elizabeth to give him the name Gabriel instructed to give him: John. In Hebrew,Ya-HaNaH, “God is gracious.” When the relatives and neighbors asked her whether to name him Zechariah-ben-Zechariah, she said,

“No! Call him John.” (1:60)

They objected, saying none in their family was named John and didn’t trust Elizabeth. They motioned to Zechariah, asking him to name the son. Taking a “little tablet,” he wrote,

“His name is John.” (1:63)

With this stereo-affirmation, the relatives and neighbors were amazed. As Zechariah wrote the name (and perhaps the rabbi named the child that name), his mouth opened, and his speech returned.

“Immediately, he praised God.” (1:64b)

This message of the miracles went throughout the mountainous region of Judea (1:65). Everyone who heard knew God was entering history again to do something wonderful. So, they wondered,

“Who will this child be since the Lord’s hand is with him?” (1:66b)

Salvation – God coming and living among them and ruling them – was nearer to them. They could sense it. Gabriel had appeared, Zechariah had become unable to speak, a baby had been born to elderly folks, and as soon as the parents named him – “Yahweh is Gracious” – the father could speak again. Truly God was in their midst. This child was the proof of that – Yahweh’s hand was with him.

When miracles happen, people praise God and are drawn to him. We are God’s miracles in a troubled world.