Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. New Living Translation to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. English Standard Version to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Berean Standard Bible to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Berean Literal Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. King James Bible To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. New King James Version to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. New American Standard Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. NASB 1995 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. NASB 1977 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. Legacy Standard Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. Amplified Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. Christian Standard Bible to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Holman Christian Standard Bible to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. American Standard Version to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Contemporary English Version with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. English Revised Version to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. GOD'S WORD® Translation The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. Good News Translation He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. International Standard Version to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. NET Bible to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. New Heart English Bible to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Webster's Bible Translation To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Weymouth New Testament to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleto a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. World English Bible to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionto a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name [is] Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin [is] Mary. Berean Literal Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. Young's Literal Translation to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name is Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin is Mary. Smith's Literal Translation To a virgin betrothed to a man to whom the name of Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name Mary. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTo a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Catholic Public Domain Version to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. New American Bible to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. New Revised Standard Version to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTo a virgin who was acquired for a price for a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. Aramaic Bible in Plain English To a virgin who was engaged to a man from the house of David, whose name was Yoseph, and the name of the virgin was Maryam. NT Translations Anderson New Testamentto a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. Godbey New Testament Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man, to whom was the name Joseph of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. Haweis New Testament to a virgin of the house of David, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph; and the virgin’s name was Mary. Mace New Testament to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. Weymouth New Testament to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary. Worrell New Testament to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. Worsley New Testament to a virgin who was betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Gabriel Foretells Jesus' Birth26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 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.”… Cross References Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ... Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. Matthew 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:20 But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. Luke 2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. / He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. John 7:42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” Romans 1:3 regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, 2 Samuel 7:12-13 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. Ruth 4:17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David. 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. ... Treasury of Scripture To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Luke 2:4,5 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:) … Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Jump to Previous Betrothed David Descendant Descendants Engaged Espoused Family House Joseph Maiden Married Mary Pledged Virgin Virgin'sJump to Next Betrothed David Descendant Descendants Engaged Espoused Family House Joseph Maiden Married Mary Pledged Virgin Virgin'sLuke 1 1. The preface of Luke to his whole gospel.5. The conception of John the Baptist; 26. and of Jesus. 39. The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus. 57. The nativity and circumcision of John. 67. The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus, 76. and of John. to a virgin The term "virgin" is significant, indicating Mary had not engaged in sexual relations. This fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, which speaks of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son. The virgin birth is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, emphasizing the divine nature of Jesus Christ. pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph who was of the house of David And the virgin’s name was Mary Persons / Places / Events 1. VirginRefers to Mary, a young woman of Nazareth, who was pledged to be married to Joseph. The term "virgin" (Greek: parthenos) emphasizes her purity and the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception. 2. Joseph A man of the house of David, betrothed to Mary. His lineage is significant as it fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would come from David's line. 3. House of David This refers to the royal lineage of King David, from which the Messiah was prophesied to come. It highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's lineage. 4. Mary The mother of Jesus, chosen by God for her faithfulness and purity. Her role is central to the account of Jesus' birth and the fulfillment of God's promise. 5. Nazareth The town where Mary lived, located in Galilee. It is significant as the humble and unexpected place from which the Savior would come. Teaching Points The Significance of VirginityMary's virginity underscores the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth, emphasizing God's intervention in human history. It calls believers to value purity and faithfulness. Fulfillment of Prophecy The connection to the house of David highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Believers can trust in God's timing and His word. God's Choice of the Humble Mary, a humble young woman from an unremarkable town, was chosen for a pivotal role in God's plan. This teaches that God often chooses the unlikely to accomplish His purposes. Faith and Obedience Mary's acceptance of God's plan demonstrates profound faith and obedience. Believers are encouraged to respond to God's call with similar trust and willingness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 1:27?2. How does Luke 1:27 emphasize Mary's virginity and its significance for Jesus' birth? 3. What does Joseph's lineage reveal about Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies? 4. How can Mary's example of purity inspire our personal walk with God today? 5. Why is it important that Mary was "pledged to be married" to Joseph? 6. How does Luke 1:27 connect to Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin birth? 7. How does Luke 1:27 affirm the virgin birth of Jesus? 8. Why is Mary's virginity significant in Christian theology according to Luke 1:27? 9. How does Luke 1:27 support the prophecy fulfillment in Isaiah 7:14? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 1? 11. Who is the Lady of Guadalupe? 12. Who was Joseph, Jesus' earthly father? 13. What is the biblical definition of betrothal? 14. What lessons do Zechariah, Gabriel, and Mary teach us? What Does Luke 1:27 Mean to a virginLuke writes, “to a virgin” (Luke 1:27). • Luke is recording an historical fact: Mary had never had sexual relations. This literal virginity fulfills God’s promise hundreds of years earlier—“Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son” (Isaiah 7:14; echoed in Matthew 1:23). • The virgin birth safeguards the sinlessness of Jesus. Because He is conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) rather than by a human father, He is “holy, blameless, pure” (Hebrews 7:26). • Mary’s question a few verses later, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” (Luke 1:34), shows she understood exactly what Gabriel meant. pledged in marriage The phrase continues, “pledged in marriage.” • In first-century Jewish life, betrothal was more binding than modern engagement. It lasted about a year, and a legal divorce was required to dissolve it (Matthew 1:18-19). • During this period the bride still lived with her parents, maintaining sexual purity until the wedding celebration (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). • God arranged events so Mary was already committed to Joseph. This preserved her honor and provided Jesus with a legal father while keeping the miraculous conception clear. to a man named Joseph Mary was betrothed “to a man named Joseph.” • Joseph is introduced simply and humbly, yet Matthew calls him “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19). He responds to God’s directions with steady obedience—taking Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24), protecting the child in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), and bringing the family back to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). • By naming Jesus (Matthew 1:25), Joseph legally acknowledges Him as his son, granting Jesus legitimate standing within Israel’s community. who was of the house of David Joseph “was of the house of David.” • This ties Jesus to God’s covenant with David: “I will raise up your offspring after you… I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-16). • Prophets repeated the promise—Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5—and the New Testament confirms it: Jesus is “descended from David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3). • Because legal descent passed through the father, Joseph’s lineage secures Jesus’ rightful claim to the Davidic throne, even though His conception is divine. and the virgin’s name was Mary Finally, “And the virgin’s name was Mary.” • Luke emphasizes her virginity a second time, underscoring the miraculous nature of what follows. • Mary’s name means “beloved” or “favored,” which aligns with Gabriel’s greeting: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). • Her humble faith shines: “I am the Lord’s servant… May it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She becomes a model of obedient trust (Luke 1:46-49). summary Every phrase of Luke 1:27 is loaded with purpose. Mary’s literal virginity fulfills prophecy and guarantees Jesus’ sinless humanity. Her betrothal to righteous Joseph provides protection and legal legitimacy. Joseph’s Davidic lineage anchors Jesus in the royal line, validating Him as the promised King. Mary herself embodies humble, faithful submission to God’s plan. Together, these details reveal God’s sovereign orchestration to bring His Messiah into the world exactly as Scripture foretold. (27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.--Of the parentage of Mary the canonical Gospels tell us nothing, and the legends of the apocryphal have no claim to credit. That her mother's name was Anna, that she surpassed the maidens of her own age in wisdom, that she went as a child into the Temple, that she had many who sought her hand, and that they agreed to decide their claims by laying their rods before the Holy Place and seeing which budded, and that Joseph thus became the accepted suitor--this may be worth mentioning, as having left its impress on Christian art, but it has no claim to the character even of tradition. The scanty notices in the Gospels are (1) that she was a "cousin," or more generally a "kinswoman," of Elizabeth, and may, therefore, have been, by her parentage, wholly or in part of the daughters of Aaron. (2) That she had a sister who, according to a somewhat doubtful construction of an ambiguous sentence, may also have borne the name of Mary or Mariam (the "Miriam" of the Old Testament), and been afterwards the wife of Cleophas, or, more correctly, Clopas (John 19:25). The absence of any mention of her parents suggests the thought that she was an orphan, and the whole narrative of the Nativity presupposes poverty. Assuming the Magnificat to have been not merely the sudden inspiration of the moment, but, in some sense, the utterance of the cherished thoughts of years, we may think of her as feeding upon the psalms and hymns and prophecies of the Sacred Books, and knowing, as she did, that the man to whom she was betrothed was of the house of David, this may well have drawn her expectations of redemption into the line of looking for the Christ, who was to be the son of David. Of Joseph, we know that he was, possibly by a twofold lineage (but see Note on Luke 3:23), the heir of that house, and must have known himself to be so. He was but a carpenter in a Galilean village, probably older than his betrothed, possibly a widower with sons and daughters, possibly the guardian of nephews and nieces who had been left orphans, but the documents which contained his genealogy must have been precious heirlooms, and the hopes that God would raise up the tabernacle of David that had fallen, to which one of those sons or nephews afterwards gave utterance (Acts 15:16), could never have been utterly extinguished.Verse 27. - To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; more accurately, betrothed. The formal ceremony of betrothal took place among the Jews in most cases a year prior to the marriage. The question has arisen whether the words, "of the house of David," refer to Joseph or to Mary. Grammatically, they would seem to belong to Joseph; but the fact of the Gospel being here so closely translated from a Hebrew (Aramaic) original. prevents us from laying down any strict linguistic rules which belong to the Greek language. "Who was Mary the virgin?" has been often asked. Verse 32 and 69 would lose their point altogether unless we regard Luke as being persuaded that the young Hebrew girl was a descendant of David. In respect to the virgin's family, we read that she was a cousin or kinswoman of Elisabeth. This would at least ally her closely to the priestly race. Dean Plumptre quotes one out of the many ancient apocryphal legends current respecting Mary of Nazareth, deeming it worthy of mention as having left its impress on Christian art. "The name of the virgin's mother was Anne. Mary surpassed the maidens of her own age in wisdom. There were many who early sought her in marriage. The suitors agreed to decide their claims by laying their rods before the holy place, and seeing which budded. It was thus that Joseph became betrothed to her." The same scholar adds, "The absence of any mention of her parents in the Gospels suggests the thought that she was an orphan, and the whole narrative of the nativity presupposes poverty! The name Mary is the same as Miriam or Marah." (On the question of the genealogy recorded by St. Luke, see note on chapter 3. 23.)Parallel Commentaries ... Greek toπρὸς (pros) Preposition Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. a virgin παρθένον (parthenon) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3933: Of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter. pledged in marriage ἐμνηστευμένην (emnēsteumenēn) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3423: To ask in marriage; pass: To be betrothed. From a derivative of mnaomai; to give a souvenir, i.e. Betroth. to a man ἀνδρὶ (andri) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. named ὄνομα (onoma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'. Joseph, Ἰωσὴφ (Iōsēph) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2501: Joseph, a proper name. Of Hebrew origin; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites. [who was] of ἐξ (ex) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. [the] house οἴκου (oikou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family. of David. Δαυὶδ (Dauid) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king. And καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. the τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. virgin’s παρθένου (parthenou) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 3933: Of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter. name ὄνομα (onoma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'. [was] Mary. Μαριάμ (Mariam) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 3137: Or Mariam of Hebrew origin; Maria or Mariam, the name of six Christian females. Links Luke 1:27 NIVLuke 1:27 NLT Luke 1:27 ESV Luke 1:27 NASB Luke 1:27 KJV Luke 1:27 BibleApps.com Luke 1:27 Biblia Paralela Luke 1:27 Chinese Bible Luke 1:27 French Bible Luke 1:27 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 1:27 To a virgin pledged to be married (Luke Lu Lk) |