So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Parallel translations
- WEB The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- KJV And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
- ESV And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- NKJV Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- NASB And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- NLT “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
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
The angel reassures Mary not to fear, for she has found favor with God. God's grace removes her dread.
Overview
Gabriel calms Mary's fear and confirms that she has received God's gracious favor. This favor is the unmerited kindness of God in choosing her for his purpose. The announcement of grace prepares her for the astonishing news to follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
- Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Matt 28:5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
- Acts 18:9–10One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- Matt 14:27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Isa 44:2This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
- Isa 41:14Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
- Isa 43:1–4Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
- Acts 27:24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
- Heb 13:6So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
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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 1:30 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
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