The Careful Account
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Luke 1:29 · Berean Standard Bible
Mary is deeply unsettled by these words and tries to figure out what this kind of greeting could possibly mean.
Mary doesn't panic. She thinks. She wonders. She processes. Her response shows she's thoughtful and reflective, not just startled.
Luke describes Mary's internal response.
She doesn't scream or faint. She thinks. 'Why would an angel call me favored? What does this mean?' Mary's faith will be a thinking, wrestling faith.
Mary is diatarasso (deeply troubled/greatly perplexed) by the greeting and dialogizeto (was pondering/reasoning through) what kind of aspasmos (greeting) this might be.
Unlike Zechariah's fear at seeing the angel, Mary's disturbance comes from the words themselves. Her rational pondering (dialogizeto) shows thoughtful engagement rather than mere terror.
The narrator describes Mary's inner response to the angelic greeting.
Mary's response reveals both humility and intelligence. She doesn't simply fear the supernatural; she wrestles with the meaning of the angel's extraordinary words about her.
27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
Read all of Luke 1 — A physician writes the most detailed account of Jesus' life. Luke notices the people others overlook — the poor, the outcast, the women, the forgotten.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad