Luke 1:36

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

And ^{G2532}, behold ^{G2400}, thy ^{G4675} cousin ^{G4773} Elisabeth ^{G1665}, she ^{G846} hath ^{G4815} also ^{G2532} conceived ^{G4815} a son ^{G5207} in ^{G1722} her ^{G846} old age ^{G1094}: and ^{G2532} this ^{G3778} is ^{G2076} the sixth ^{G1623} month ^{G3376} with her ^{G846}, who ^{G3588} was called ^{G2564} barren ^{G4723}.

"You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant!

Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.

And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

Luke 1:36 is a pivotal verse within the narrative of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel delivers astonishing news to Mary concerning the birth of Jesus. This verse serves as a miraculous sign to Mary, confirming God's extraordinary power and faithfulness.

Context of Luke 1:36

Following the angel Gabriel's declaration to Mary that she would conceive a son as the Son of God (see Luke 1:31-33), Mary questioned how this could be, as she was a virgin. In response, Gabriel provided this specific detail about her cousin, Elisabeth. Elisabeth, married to Zacharias, was well advanced in years and had been considered barren, a condition that often brought social stigma in ancient Jewish culture (see Luke 1:7). Her miraculous conception of John the Baptist was already a testament to divine intervention, setting the stage for an even greater miracle with Mary.

Key Themes and Messages

Divine Power and Miracles: The verse powerfully underscores God's ability to transcend natural limitations. Elisabeth's pregnancy in her old age, after a lifetime of barrenness, is presented as irrefutable proof that "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). This serves to strengthen Mary's faith in the even more extraordinary virgin birth.
God's Interconnected Plan: The mention of Elisabeth's sixth month highlights the divinely orchestrated timeline. The parallel pregnancies of Mary (Jesus) and Elisabeth (John the Baptist) show how God intricately weaves different lives and events together for His ultimate purpose. John was prophesied to prepare the way for the Messiah, and their conceptions occurring in close succession emphasizes this divine synchronicity.
Confirmation and Assurance: For Mary, this news about Elisabeth was not just information but a tangible sign. It was a personal, relatable example of God's miraculous work in her own family, providing assurance and alleviating doubt as she processed the staggering news about her own pregnancy.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the term "barren" to describe Elisabeth, which in Greek is stereis. This word emphasizes a state of being unfruitful or sterile, highlighting the natural impossibility of her conception. The fact that God overcame this natural barrier underscores the profound supernatural intervention at play.

Practical Application

Luke 1:36 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

No situation is too difficult for God: Just as Elisabeth's barrenness was overcome, God can work in seemingly impossible circumstances in our lives, whether personal, financial, or spiritual.
God's plans are often interconnected: We might not always see how different events or people in our lives fit together, but this verse suggests a divine tapestry being woven, often beyond our immediate comprehension.
Signs of God's work can strengthen our faith: Observing how God works in the lives of others, or recalling His past faithfulness in our own lives, can provide the assurance needed to trust Him with future challenges.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

No cross-references found for this verse.