SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:63
Y demandando la tablilla, escribi, diciendo: Juan es su nombre. Y todos se maravillaron.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 1:63
Verse 63. A writing table] pinakidion, a tablet, a diminutive of pinax, a table. "The boys in Barbary are taught to write upon a smooth thin board, slightly daubed over with whiting, which may be rubbed off or renewed at pleasure. Such probably (for the Jewish children use the same) was the little board, or writing table, as we render it ver. 63, that was called for by Zacharias." Shaw's Travels, p. 194. My old MS. considers the word as meaning the instrument of writing, rather than the tablet on which he wrote: and he aringe a poyntel, wroot seyinge, Joon is his name. A thin board, made out of the pine tree, smeared over with wax, was used among the ancients; and to this the Anglo-Saxon version seems to refer, as it translates pinakidion, , a wax board or cloth.
An intelligent friend has suggested a different mode of reading the 62nd and 63rd verses: ver. 62. And they asked his father how he would have him called? ver. 63. And he made signs for a writing table and wrote, His name is John: "For," says my friend, "the 64th verse proves his mouth was not opened, neither his tongue loosed, till after the child was named; therefore he could not ask for the table; and it is more reasonable that he, being dumb, should make signs, than that those should who had the use of their tongues." But, howsoever ingenious this may be, neither the words of the Greek text, nor their construction, will bear this version.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 63. And he asked for a writing table , etc.] That is, he made signs for one, for as yet he could not speak. The Persic version renders it ink, and the Ethiopic, a book, and the Vulgate Latin, a notebook. The word signifies a little table, such as they used to write not only upon, but in; and was sometimes of brass f91 , sometimes of wood, and sometimes of wax f92 , on which they wrote with a style or pen; and wrote, saying, his name is John : not that he must be, or shall be, so called; but this is his name, and no other; being what the angel had given him before his conception, and Zacharias now confirms: and they marvelled all ; they were astonished, not so much at the new name brought into the family, as at the agreement between Elisabeth and Zacharias in this point, when the latter was both deaf and dumb; they knowing nothing, as yet, of the angel's message to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 57-66 - In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouth must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not us it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ αιτησας 154 5660 V-AAP-NSM πινακιδιον 4093 N-ASN εγραψεν 1125 5656 V-AAI-3S λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM ιωαννης 2491 N-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S το 3588 T-NSN ονομα 3686 N-NSN αυτου 846 P-GSM και 2532 CONJ εθαυμασαν 2296 5656 V-AAI-3P παντες 3956 A-NPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
63. Writing table (pinakidion). Table was formerly used in the sense of tablet. Thus Shakspeare:"Yea, from the table of my memory, I'll wipe away all trivial fond records." Hamlet, i., 5.
Tynd., writing tables. The meaning is a little writing tablet, probably covered with wax. Only here in the New Testament. Used by medical writers of a physician's note book. Wyc., has a poyntel, i.e., a style for writing.
Wrote, saying. A Hebrew form of expression. See 2 Kings x. 6.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:63 {Tablet} (pinakidion). Diminutive of pinakis. In Aristotle and the papyri for writing tablet, probably covered with wax. Sometimes it was a little table, like Shakespeare's "the table of my memory" (Hamlet, i.5). It was used also of a physician's note-book. {Wrote, saying} (egrayen legwn). Hebrew way of speaking (#2Ki 10:6).
