New International Version“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
New Living TranslationMary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
English Standard VersionAnd Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Berean Standard Bible“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Berean Literal BibleAnd Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I do not know a man?"
King James BibleThen said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
New King James VersionThen Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
New American Standard BibleBut Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
NASB 1995Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
NASB 1977And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Legacy Standard BibleBut Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
Amplified BibleMary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”
Christian Standard BibleMary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleMary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”
American Standard VersionAnd Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Contemporary English VersionMary asked the angel, "How can this happen? I am not even married!"
English Revised VersionAnd Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationMary asked the angel, "How can this be? I've never had sexual intercourse."
Good News TranslationMary said to the angel, "I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?"
International Standard VersionMary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?"
NET BibleMary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?"
New Heart English BibleMary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
Webster's Bible TranslationThen said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Weymouth New Testament"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?" Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
World English BibleMary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Mary said to the messenger, “How will this be, seeing I do not know a husband?”
Berean Literal BibleAnd Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I do not know a man?"
Young's Literal Translation And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Mary said to the messenger, How shall this be, since I know not man? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
New American BibleBut Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
New Revised Standard VersionMary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Mary said to the angel, How can this be, for no man has known me.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishMaryam said to the Angel, “How will this be, for no man has known me?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut Mary said to the angel: How shall this be, since I know not a man?
Godbey New TestamentAnd Mary said to the angel; How shall this be, since I know not man?
Haweis New TestamentAnd Mary said, How shall this be, seeing I know not man?
Mace New TestamentThen said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man?
Weymouth New Testament"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
Worrell New TestamentAnd Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I know not a man?"
Worsley New TestamentThen said Mary to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Gabriel Foretells Jesus' Birth… 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” 34“Howcan this be,”Maryaskedtheangel,“sinceI am a virgin?”35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.…
Cross References Matthew 1:18-25This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ...
Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
Genesis 18:10-14Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ...
Judges 13:3-5The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. / Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
Genesis 17:15-19Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. / And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.” / Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?” ...
1 Samuel 1:19-20The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. / So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
John 1:13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
Galatians 4:4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Romans 9:8-9So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. / For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
Hebrews 11:11By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Genesis 21:1-2Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.
2 Kings 4:14-17So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.” / “Call her,” said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. / And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.” ...
Matthew 19:26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jeremiah 31:22How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”
Psalm 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Treasury of Scripture Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Judges 13:8-12 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born… Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lordsaid unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Jump to Previous AngelHusbandMaryMessengerVirginJump to Next AngelHusbandMaryMessengerVirginLuke 1 1.The preface of Luke to his whole gospel.5.The conception of John the Baptist;26.and of Jesus.39.The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus.57.The nativity and circumcision of John.67.The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus,76.and of John.“How can this be,”Mary's question reflects a natural human response to an extraordinary announcement. In biblical context, this moment occurs during the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel informs Mary of her role in the divine plan. Her question is not one of doubt but of wonder and curiosity, seeking understanding of God's miraculous work. This mirrors other biblical figures who questioned divine messages, such as Zechariah earlier in the same chapter, though his response was met with a different reaction due to his doubt. Mary asked the angel,
Mary's interaction with the angel Gabriel is significant, as angels often served as messengers of God in the Bible. Gabriel's appearance to Mary in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, highlights the humble circumstances of Jesus' earthly beginnings. This encounter emphasizes the personal nature of God's communication with His people, choosing a young woman of humble status to bear the Messiah. The angelic visitation also connects to other biblical instances where angels delivered important messages, such as to Daniel in the Old Testament. “since I am a virgin?”
Mary's statement underscores the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception. The term "virgin" is crucial, as it fulfills the prophecy found inIsaiah 7:14, which speaks of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son named Immanuel. This virgin birth is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, affirming the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Culturally, Mary's virginity would have been significant, as it preserved her honor and purity in a society that valued these traits. Theologically, it points to the supernatural intervention of God, setting the stage for the incarnation of Christ, who is both fully God and fully man. Persons / Places / Events 1. MaryA young Jewish woman, betrothed to Joseph, chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. Her response to the angel Gabriel shows her humility and faith. 2. Angel GabrielA messenger of God who appears to Mary to announce the miraculous conception of Jesus. Gabriel is known for delivering important messages from God, as seen in other biblical accounts. 3. NazarethThe town in Galilee where Mary lived. It is significant as the humble setting for the announcement of Jesus' birth. 4. The AnnunciationThe event where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit. This marks the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise of a Savior. Teaching Points Faith in the ImpossibleMary's question reflects a natural human curiosity and wonder at God's miraculous work. Her faith, despite her initial question, is a model for trusting God in seemingly impossible situations. God's SovereigntyThe virgin birth underscores God's control over creation and His ability to intervene supernaturally. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign over their lives. Purity and ObedienceMary's status as a virgin highlights the importance of purity and obedience to God's will. Christians are called to live lives that honor God, trusting in His plans. Divine PurposeMary's role in God's plan shows that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Believers should be open to God's calling, regardless of their perceived status or ability. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Luke 1
What is the Thomas Jefferson Bible?
What is the Annunciation?
Matthew 1:18 – How can a virgin conceive a child biologically without a human father?
What beliefs does The Sparkle Creed express?(34) How shall this be?--The question of the Virgin is not altogether of the same nature as that of Zacharias in Luke 1:18. He asks by what sign he shall know that the words were true which told him of a son in his old age. Mary is told of a far greater marvel, for her question shows that she understood the angel to speak of the birth as antecedent to her marriage, and she, accepting the words in faith, does not demand a sign, but reverently seeks to know the manner of their accomplishment.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek “HowΠῶς(Pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!can this be,”ἔσται(estai)Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.MaryΜαριὰμ(Mariam)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3137:Or Mariam of Hebrew origin; Maria or Mariam, the name of six Christian females.askedΕἶπεν(Eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.angel,ἄγγελον(angelon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32:From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.“sinceἐπεὶ(epei)Conjunction
Strong's 1893:Of time: when, after; of cause: since, because; otherwise: else. From epi and ei; thereupon, i.e. Since.I am a virgin?”γινώσκω(ginōskō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1097:A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.
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NT Gospels: Luke 1:34 Mary said to the angel How can (Luke Lu Lk) |
