ἐννεύω G1770
to make signs, gesture, signal with motion; communicate nonverbally through gestures
This verb means to signal or communicate by gestures, typically nodding or making signs. In Luke 1:62, the crowd makes signs to Zechariah asking what he wants to name his son, since he has been struck mute. The term describes nonverbal communication necessitated by his inability to speak. Classical usage shows it meant nodding to signal or beckoning. Luke uses it to depict the workaround community members employed to communicate with the priest during his divinely imposed muteness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke 1:62 shows people making signs (ἐνένευον) to ask mute Zechariah what the child should be named. This is gestural communication forced by his speechlessness. The imperfect tense suggests repeated or ongoing signaling attempts. Spanish hacían señas and French faire signe capture the nonverbal gesturing. The lexicon cites classical usage for nodding or beckoning. This communication workaround highlights Zechariah's continued muteness as divine sign until John's birth and naming. 1×
AR["فَأَشَارُوا"]·ben["ইশারা-করলেন"]·DE["ἐνένευον"]·EN["they-were-making-signs"]·FR["faire-signe"]·heb["רָמְזוּ"]·HI["संकेत-करते-थे"]·ID["mereka-memberi-isyarat"]·IT["eneneuon"]·jav["Sami-ngisyarataken"]·KO["손짓했다"]·PT["faziam-sinais"]·RU["спрашивали-знаками"]·ES["hacían-señas"]·SW["Wakamwashiria"]·TR["işaret-ediyorlardı"]·urd["اشارے-کیے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐννεύω, nod or make signs to, ἐννεύει με φεύγειν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐ. τινὶ τὸ τί ἂν θέλοι.. ask him by signs what.., NT