Luke 1:63

“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…”

“marvelled all--at his giving the same name, not knowing of any communication between them on the subject.”

“He asked - That is, by signs. A writing table - The table denoted by this word was usually made of wood and covered with wax. The ancients used to write on such tables, as they had not the use of paper. The instrument used for writing was an iron pen or style, by which they marked on the wax which covered the table. Sometimes the writing-table was made entirely of lead. return to 'Top of Page'”

“a: Pro 3:3; Isa 30:8; Jer 17:1; Hab 2:2 His: Luk 1:13, Luk 1:60 Luke 1:64”