Luke 1:29

29 But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

Luke 1:29 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:29

And when she saw him
The Persic version renders it, "when Mary saw the angel"; which expresses the true sense of the words, The Vulgate Latin reads, "when she heard"; i.e. the salutation:

she was troubled at his saying;
at his speaking to her; she was surprised at the sight of him, and more at what he said to her;

and cast in her mind,
or thought and reasoned within herself,

what manner of salutation this should be;
for it was not usual with the Jews for a man to use any salutation to a woman; with them it was not lawful to be done in any shape or form; not by a messenger, nor even by her own husband F21; so that Mary might well be thrown into a concern what should be the meaning of this; and especially, that she should be addressed in such language, and saluted as a peculiar favourite of God, and blessed among women.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 70. 1, 2. Maimon. Hilch. Issure Biah, c. 21.

Luke 1:29 In-Context

27 To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.
29 But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?
30 And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.
31 And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.
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