Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Parallel translations
- WEB But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
- KJV And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
- NKJV But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
- NASB But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was.
- NLT Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Mary was deeply troubled and puzzled by the angel's greeting. She responds with thoughtful caution.
Overview
Mary's unease reflects humility and careful reflection rather than mere fear. She ponders the meaning of such an extraordinary salutation. Her thoughtful response models a reverent posture before God's word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 10:17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
- Acts 10:4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
- Luke 1:12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
- Mark 6:49–50but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
- 1 Sam 9:20–21As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”
- Mark 16:5–6When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
- Luke 2:19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Luke 2:51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
- Luke 1:66And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
- Judg 6:13–15“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 1:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.