But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was.
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.
- BSB Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
- ESV But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort 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.
- NLT Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
- Acts 10:4He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
- Luke 1:12Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
- Mark 6:49–50but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
- 1 Sam 9:20–21As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them; for they have been found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father’s house?”
- Mark 16:5–6Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed.
- Luke 2:19But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
- Luke 2:51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
- Luke 1:66All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
- Judg 6:13–15Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has cast us off, 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.