Then said Mary to the angel, how shall this be
This she said not as doubting the truth of what was said; for she
required no sign, as Zacharias did; nor is she charged with, and
blamed for unbelief, as he was; yea, it is expressly said, (
Luke 1:45 ) that
she believed: nor was this a curious question, as whether she
should have this son by a man in a married state, or in her
present virgin state; for she clearly understood the angel to
mean the latter; and therefore her words express her admiration
at it, and also her desire to be informed of the manner how it
should be: as to the matter of fact, she did not dispute it, but
wanted to be resolved by what means it would be brought about:
she knew, by prophecy, that the Messiah was to be born of a
virgin, and she perceived, by the angel's declaration, that she
was that virgin, but could not imagine in what way this amazing
thing should be effected; and therefore proposes this question
for the following reason,
seeing I know not a man?
"A husband", as the Arabic version renders it; not Joseph, nor
any other man; for though she was espoused to Joseph, yet he had
not taken her to wife; nor were they, as yet; come together; and
before they did, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost, (
Matthew
1:18 ) she was a pure virgin, untouched by man. The words are
an "euphemism", or a modest way of expressing carnal copulation;
see ( Genesis
4:1 ) .