Luke 1:29

29 But she, [seeing] [the angel], was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what ^[a] this salutation might be.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Luke 1:29 In-Context

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name [was] Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.

28 And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, [thou] favoured one! the Lord [is] with thee: [blessed art *thou* amongst women].

29 But she, [seeing] [the angel], was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

31 and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

Footnotes

• [a]. 'Of what nature or character:' what the aim or meaning of it was.