Luke 1:44

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:39-56 It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And whence is this to me? - An expression of humility. Why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me, as if to honor me?

Mother of my Lord - The word "Lord" sometimes denotes "divinity," and sometimes superior, master, teacher, or governor. It was given by the Jews to their expected Messiah; but whether they understood it as denoting divinity cannot now be ascertained. It is clear only that Elizabeth used it as denoting great dignity and honor.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

43. "The mother of my Lord"—but not "My Lady" (compare Lu 20:42; Joh 20:28)" [Bengel].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

By these words Elisabeth declareth that she looked upon the motion of the child in her womb, upon Mary’s salutation of her, as something more than natural.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears,.... This she mentions, as the signal by which she knew that she was the mother of her Lord; namely, from that unusual and extraordinary motion of the child, she felt within her:

the babe leaped in my womb for joy; that the mother of her Lord, and his, was come thither: the Jews ought not to object to this, who affirm, that the embryos, or infants in their mother's womb, sung the song at the Red Sea, and praised God. (i).

(i) Targum in Ps lxviii. 27. Zohar in Exod. fol. 23. 3. T. Hieros, Sota, fol. 20. 3. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 75. 3.

Geneva Study Bible

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 1:44 f. Γάρ] specifies the ground of knowledge, on which she declares Mary as the mother of the Messiah. She had the discernment of this connection through the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:41.

ὅτι] may either be the specification of the reason attached to μακαρία (Vulgate, Luther, Erasmus, Beza, Lange, and others), or the statement of the contents to πιστεύσασα (Grotius, Bengel, Paulus, Kuinoel, Bornemann, de Wette, Ewald, Bleek, and others). The latter is the correct view, since the conception—the chief point of the λελαλημένα, which Elizabeth has in view—is no longer future, but has already taken place. Hence: for blessed is she who has believed, that there shall be a fulfilment to all (Luke 1:31 ff.), etc. As to τελείωσις, comp. Jdt 10:9; John 19:28.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 1:44. γὰρ: implies that from the movement of her child Elizabeth inferred that the mother of the Lord stood before her.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

44. for joy] Rather, in exultation.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 1:44. Γὰρ, for) By this she seems to intimate, that at the same precise point of time both her infant-fœtus leaped, and Mary began in actual fact to be mother of our Lord. Comp. the ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν, from the-now-time [from this time forth].—ἐσκίρτησεν, leaped) Nor was that leap of salutation the one and only act of faith [in the infant John]; for he was “filled with the Holy Ghost” [even from his mother’s womb], Luke 1:15.

Luke 1:44

Vincent's Word Studies

For joy (ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει)

Lit., in joy. See on Luke 1:14.