26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee whose name was Nazareth, [1:27] to a virgin — an unmarried young woman of marriageable age — who was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. [1:28] And coming in, he said, "Rejoice, you who have been highly favored! The Lord is with you." [1:29] But she was greatly troubled at the word and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be. [1:30] And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [1:31] And look — you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus. [1:32] He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [1:33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." [1:34] And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not been with a man?" [1:35] And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the one to be born will be called holy — the Son of God. [1:36] And look — Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. [1:37] For nothing spoken by God is impossible." [1:38] And Mary said, "Look — the female slave of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
LUK 1:26-38
Gabriel Foretells Jesusʼ Birth
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish culture, betrothal was a legally binding arrangement, more akin to marriage than modern engagement. A betrothed woman like Mary was considered Joseph’s wife, though the marriage was not yet consummated. The term (virgin) underscored her purity, a critical expectation for betrothed women in a society where family honor was tied to sexual integrity. Gabriel’s greeting, (graciously favored), signaled divine favor, a rare and weighty acknowledgment in a culture steeped in honor-shame dynamics. Mary’s response, identifying herself as (female slave), reflected her submission to God’s will, a posture of humility expected in Jewish piety. The announcement of a miraculous birth would have evoked echoes of Israel’s history, recalling figures like Sarah and Hannah, whose barrenness was overcome by divine intervention. For Mary, this revelation carried both honor and risk, as pregnancy outside consummation could bring shame and legal consequences under Jewish law.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
LUK 1:26
- KJV
- And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
- BSB
- In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
- Koinōnos
- And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee whose name was Nazareth,
LUK 1:27
- KJV
- To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
- BSB
- to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virginʼs name was Mary.
- Koinōnos
- to a virgin — an unmarried young woman of marriageable age — who was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary.
LUK 1:28
- KJV
- And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
- BSB
- The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
- Koinōnos
- And coming in, he said, "Rejoice, you who have been highly favored! The Lord is with you.
LUK 1:29
- KJV
- And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
- BSB
- Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
- Koinōnos
- But she was greatly troubled at the word and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be.
LUK 1:30
- KJV
- And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
- BSB
- So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Koinōnos
- And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
LUK 1:31
- KJV
- And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
- BSB
- Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- And look — you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus.
LUK 1:32
- KJV
- He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
- BSB
- He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- Koinōnos
- He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
LUK 1:33
- KJV
- And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- BSB
- and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
- Koinōnos
- and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
LUK 1:34
- KJV
- Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
- BSB
- “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
- Koinōnos
- And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not been with a man?
LUK 1:35
- KJV
- And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
- BSB
- The 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.
- Koinōnos
- And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the one to be born will be called holy — the Son of God.
LUK 1:36
- KJV
- And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
- BSB
- Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
- Koinōnos
- And look — Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.
LUK 1:37
- KJV
- For with God nothing shall be impossible.
- BSB
- For no word from God will ever fail.”
- Koinōnos
- For nothing spoken by God is impossible.
LUK 1:38
- KJV
- And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
- BSB
- “I am the Lordʼs servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
- Koinōnos
- And Mary said, "Look — the female slave of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 1:27
- a virgin:The word translated 'a virgin' referred to an unmarried young woman, typically of marriageable age, whose virginity was assumed and highly valued in that culture.
- betrothed:The term 'betrothed' indicated a formal, legally binding agreement that was considered the first stage of marriage, making the couple legally husband and wife, though they did not yet live together.
LUK 1:28
- he said;:The word translated 'he said' is more literally 'highly favored' or 'graced.' It emphasizes that Mary has been singled out for a special act of divine favor and blessing.
LUK 1:38
- handmaid:The word translated 'handmaid' literally means 'female slave' or 'bondservant.' It conveys a sense of complete submission and availability to the will of a master.