And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should 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.
- BSB Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might 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 10:17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
- Acts 10:4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
- Luke 1:12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
- Mark 6:49–50But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
- 1 Sam 9:20–21And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?
- Mark 16:5–6And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
- Luke 2:19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
- Luke 2:51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
- Luke 1:66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
- Judg 6:13–15And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
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.