But his mother spoke up, “Absolutely not! His name will be John.”
and sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah [The Lord’s Beloved].
I slept with the prophet. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. The Lord told me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz.
He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus.
The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.
Their friends said to her, “But you don’t have any relatives with that name.”
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.
