Was Zechariah Deaf and Dumb? ~ No! ~ See Why! ~ ????????

[Bible Speaks]

Was Zechariah Deaf and Dumb? ~ No! ~ See Why! ~ ????????

(Luke 1:62)

"Then they asked his father for signs what he wanted him to be called."

Why did they have to ask him for signs? WAS IT DEAF IN ADDITION TO DUMB?

Did Zechariah become mute and deaf? No. Only his speech was affected. Others asked "by signs" what he wanted to name the child, but not because Zechariah was deaf. He most likely heard what his wife had told him about naming his son. Perhaps others asked Zechariah about this by making a sign or a gesture. The fact that it was only necessary to restore his speech indicates that Zechariah's hearing had not been affected (Luke 1:13, 18-20, 

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Zechariah, who had been mute since the angel's announcement, was often forced to use gestures, a kind of sign language, to express himself. For example, he "kept beckoning" to those in the temple. (Luke 1:21, 22) 

When you later ordered a tablet, you must have used signs or gestures. (Luke 1:63) It is possible, therefore, that those around him during his period of silence were also inclined to use gestures. - Bible Speaks

Luke 1:62Good News Translation (GNT)

62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.

Good News Translation (GNT)

Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society

Luke 1:62New International Version (NIV)

62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

New International Version (NIV)

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