Luke 1:26-27
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
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Luke 1:26-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
Luke 1:26-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.(A)
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Luke 1:26-27
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
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Luke 1:26-27
New Catholic Bible
26 Announcement of the Birth of Jesus.[a] In the sixth month,[b] the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin[c] betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
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- Luke 1:26 Mary, a young girl, is betrothed, despite the fact that she has the unusual intention of remaining a virgin; “betrothed”: that is, according to the custom of the time, she was legally married but did not yet live with her husband. Confronted with this surprising message, she gives no sign of fear or doubt: she reflects, meditates, believes. This woman has the “grace,” that is, the favor of God; she is greeted as if Messianic joy were being proclaimed to the Daughter of Zion, the new Jerusalem (see Zep 3:14; Zec 9:9).
The Bible has often spoken of promised sons; but this Jesus is the very Messiah of Israel, according to the mysterious prophecy of Isaiah on which Israel constantly and hopefully meditated (vv. 32-33; see Isa 7:14; 9:6); he is even far more: the Son of God (v. 35). The body of Jesus was to take form in the flesh of Mary, and this was to come about not through human planning but through the presence and action of God himself (see Ex 40:34-35; Num 9:15; 10:34), of the Spirit who creates and gives life (Gen 1:2; Ps 104:30; Isa 11:1-6). - Luke 1:26 In the sixth month: i.e., after the time of John’s conception.
- Luke 1:27 Virgin: i.e., one who had not yet had sexual relations. Mary’s question in v. 34 and the reference in v. 27 that she was “betrothed” (pledged to be married) clearly make this point. Mary had just entered her teens, for betrothal usually took place after puberty, but intercourse was not allowed until marriage. The betrothal could be severed only by divorce or death.
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