Luke 1:26

KJV

¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} in {G1722} the sixth {G1623} month {G3376} the angel {G32} Gabriel {G1043} was sent {G649} from {G5259} God {G2316} unto {G1519} a city {G4172} of Galilee {G1056}, named {G3739}{G3686} Nazareth {G3478},

Complete Jewish Bible

In the sixth month, the angel Gavri'el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret,

Berean Standard Bible

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

American Standard Version

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 1:26 marks a pivotal moment in redemptive history, detailing the divine initiative to announce the Messiah's impending birth. In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel, a prominent heavenly messenger, is dispatched directly from God to the unassuming Galilean town of Nazareth, setting the stage for the most significant event in human history: the incarnation of Jesus Christ. This verse underscores God's meticulous timing, sovereign choice of location, and the profound humility that would characterize the Messiah's earthly origins.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the account of the miraculous conception of John the Baptist to Zacharias and Elizabeth, detailed in [Luke 1:5-25](/luke/1-5-25 "The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold"). The phrase "And in the sixth month" directly links the narrative to the timeline established in [Luke 1:24](/luke/1-24 "Elizabeth Conceives John the Baptist"), indicating the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. This precise chronological connection highlights God's orchestrated plan, demonstrating a deliberate sequencing of events where John, the forerunner, precedes Jesus, the Messiah. The narrative shifts from the Judean hill country, where Zacharias and Elizabeth resided, to the northern region of Galilee, specifically Nazareth, signaling a new, equally miraculous, divine intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Galilee was a northern region of Palestine, often viewed with a degree of disdain by the more religiously conservative inhabitants of Judea, particularly Jerusalem. It was a region with a mixed population, considered less pure in its Jewish observance, and more exposed to Gentile influences. This perception is famously captured by Nathanael's skeptical question in [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "Nathanael's Question About Nazareth"): "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Nazareth itself was a small, obscure village, not mentioned in the Old Testament or other ancient sources outside the New Testament. The angel Gabriel, whose name signifies his role as a divine messenger, had previously appeared to Zacharias in the temple ([Luke 1:19](/luke/1-19 "Gabriel Appears to Zacharias")) and centuries earlier to the prophet Daniel ([Daniel 9:21](/daniel/9-21 "Gabriel Explains Daniel's Vision")), underscoring the immense importance and divine authority of the message he was about to deliver.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 1:26 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and biblical theology. First, it powerfully establishes the **Divine Initiative** in salvation; God is the active agent, sending His messenger to implement His redemptive plan. Second, it highlights **God's Sovereign Timing**, as the specific mention of "the sixth month" and the preceding narrative of John's conception underscore God's meticulous orchestration of history. Third, the choice of Nazareth emphasizes **Humility and Obscurity** as recurring motifs in God's redemptive work. God frequently chooses the lowly and overlooked to accomplish His greatest purposes, a theme echoed in passages like [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "God Chooses the Foolish and Weak"). Finally, the appearance of Gabriel reinforces the **Role of Angels** as divine servants who convey God's decrees and participate in His unfolding plan for humanity, as seen in the broader angelic activity throughout [Luke's Gospel](/luke/1 "Luke Chapter 1").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gabriel (Greek, _Gabriḗl'_):** As an archangel, Gabriel is a high-ranking divine messenger. His appearance consistently marks moments of profound prophetic significance and divine revelation, indicating that the message he carries is of utmost importance and directly from God's throne.
* **sent (Greek, _apostéllō'_):** This verb signifies being "sent out on a mission" or "set apart" for a specific purpose. It emphasizes the divine commission and authority behind Gabriel's journey. He is not merely appearing but is deliberately dispatched by God with a precise objective, highlighting the intentionality and sovereignty of God's plan.
* **Nazareth (Greek, _Nazaréth'_):** A place in Palestine of uncertain derivation, Nazareth was an obscure and seemingly insignificant village in Galilee. Its choice as the location for the announcement of the Messiah's birth underscores God's tendency to work through the humble and overlooked, challenging human expectations of where divine activity should occur.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And in the sixth month":** This opening phrase meticulously connects the narrative to the preceding account of John the Baptist's conception, specifically referencing the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. It underscores God's precise and deliberate timing in orchestrating the events of salvation history, showing that Jesus' birth was not a random occurrence but a divinely scheduled event within a larger, interconnected plan.
* **"the angel Gabriel was sent from God":** This clause emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message. Gabriel is not acting on his own accord but is a direct emissary of God, highlighting that the initiative for the incarnation comes entirely from God. The use of "sent" (apostéllō) implies a specific mission and divine commission, elevating the significance of the impending announcement.
* **"unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth":** This specifies the destination of Gabriel's mission. The choice of Nazareth, an obscure and often disdained town in Galilee, is profoundly significant. It contrasts the magnitude of the divine message with the humility of its chosen setting, foreshadowing the humble nature of the Messiah's life and ministry and reinforcing God's pattern of exalting the lowly.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 1:26 employs several literary devices to enhance its theological impact. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, contrasting the immense significance of the divine messenger and his message ("the angel Gabriel was sent from God") with the humble and obscure setting ("unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth"). This stark contrast highlights God's unconventional methods and His preference for working through the seemingly insignificant. There is also strong **Symbolism** in the choice of Nazareth, which becomes a symbol of humility and God's ability to bring forth greatness from unexpected places, challenging human perceptions of importance. Furthermore, the verse serves as a crucial point of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the humble origins and unassuming nature of the Messiah, who would ultimately be known as "Jesus of Nazareth," and whose ministry would often be centered in Galilee.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 1:26 is a profound theological statement on God's sovereign initiative in salvation. It reveals that the entire plan of redemption originates with God, who meticulously orchestrates timing, chooses His messengers, and selects the most unexpected settings to fulfill His divine purposes. The sending of Gabriel from God underscores the divine authority and supernatural nature of the events surrounding Christ's birth, emphasizing that the incarnation was not a human endeavor but a direct act of God. This verse also powerfully introduces the theme of God's preference for the humble and overlooked, a motif that permeates the entire biblical narrative, demonstrating that God's power is often made perfect in weakness, and His glory is revealed through seemingly insignificant means.

* [Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "God Sent His Son in the Fullness of Time")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "God Chooses the Foolish and Weak")
* [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "God Speaks Through His Son")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 1:26 offers profound insights for our spiritual journey, reminding us that God's greatest works often begin in the most unexpected and humble places. Just as God chose an obscure village like Nazareth for the announcement of His Son, He often chooses ordinary people and seemingly insignificant circumstances to accomplish His divine purposes today. This verse invites us to cultivate a posture of humility, recognizing that our perceived status or location does not limit God's ability to use us powerfully. It encourages us to be attentive to God's hand in the seemingly mundane and to trust in His perfect timing, even when His plans unfold in ways we might not anticipate. Moreover, it should fill us with awe at God's meticulous care and intentionality in bringing about our salvation, prompting us to respond with gratitude and obedient faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's choice of Nazareth challenge your own expectations of where God's significant work should occur?**
* **In what ways might you be overlooking God's activity in the "ordinary" or "humble" aspects of your own life or community?**
* **How does the divine initiative in sending Gabriel from God encourage your trust in God's sovereign plan for your life and for the world?**

### FAQ

**Why is the "sixth month" significant in this verse?**

Answer: The "sixth month" refers to the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist, as established in [Luke 1:24](/luke/1-24 "Elizabeth Conceives John the Baptist"). This specific chronological detail is significant because it directly links the two miraculous conceptions—John's and Jesus's—demonstrating God's precise and deliberate timing in orchestrating redemptive history. It shows that Jesus's birth was not an isolated event but part of a carefully planned sequence, with John serving as the forerunner to the Messiah.

**Who is the angel Gabriel, and what is his role in the Bible?**

Answer: Gabriel is a prominent archangel, a high-ranking divine messenger in the Bible. His name is associated with delivering messages of immense prophetic and redemptive significance. Before his appearance to Mary in [Luke 1:26](/luke/1-26 "Gabriel Sent to Nazareth"), he had appeared to Zacharias to announce John the Baptist's birth ([Luke 1:19](/luke/1-19 "Gabriel Appears to Zacharias")) and centuries earlier to the prophet Daniel to explain visions concerning the future of Israel and the coming Messiah ([Daniel 8:16](/daniel/8-16 "Gabriel Explains the Vision") and [Daniel 9:21](/daniel/9-21 "Gabriel Explains the Prophecy of Seventy Weeks")). His role is consistently to convey direct, crucial messages from God, underscoring the divine authority and importance of the news he brings.

**Why did God choose Nazareth, an obscure town, for such a pivotal announcement?**

Answer: God's choice of Nazareth, a small and often disdained village in Galilee, for the announcement of the Messiah's birth is profoundly symbolic. It underscores a recurring biblical theme: God often chooses the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His greatest purposes. This choice challenges human expectations of where divine power and glory should manifest, demonstrating that God's ways are not mankind's ways. It also foreshadows the humble, unpretentious nature of Jesus's earthly life and ministry, fulfilling prophecies that the Messiah would not come from a place of worldly prominence but would be associated with a lowly origin, as noted in [Matthew 2:23](/matthew/2-23 "Jesus Called a Nazarene").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 1:26, with its depiction of the divine initiative in sending Gabriel to Nazareth, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus himself. The "sent from God" aspect of Gabriel's mission foreshadows the greater truth that Jesus, the Son, was Himself "sent" by the Father into the world, not merely as a messenger but as the ultimate revelation of God ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "God Sent His Son") and [John 17:18](/john/17-18 "Jesus Sends His Disciples")). The choice of Nazareth, an obscure Galilean town, profoundly prefigures Christ's humble incarnation, where the Son of God emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant and being born in lowly circumstances, as beautifully articulated in [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Christ's Humility and Exaltation"). This divine condescension, starting with the very announcement of His birth in an overlooked place, highlights that salvation would come not through human might or worldly prominence, but through God's sovereign, humble, and redemptive act in Christ, making Him accessible to all, especially the marginalized and despised, just as He came from a despised place. Thus, this verse is a foundational stone in understanding the profound humility and divine intentionality behind the entire saving work of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 2:23

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Luke 1:19

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

John 7:41

Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Luke 2:4

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

John 1:45

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

John 1:46

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.