And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Parallel translations
- WEB Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.
- BSB “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
- NKJV Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- NASB And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- NLT Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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 submits in faith, calling herself the Lord's servant and accepting his word. Her humble obedience is exemplary.
Overview
Mary yields fully to God's will, embracing the costly calling with trust. Her response of faith contrasts with Zacharias' doubt. She models the believer's proper posture: glad submission to whatever God ordains.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Rom 4:20–21He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
- Ps 119:38Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
- Ps 116:16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
- 2 Sam 7:25–29And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
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 1:38 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.