Luke 1:27
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.

Majority 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.

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.

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 Version
to 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 Bible
To 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 Bible
To 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 Testament
to 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' Birth
26In 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.

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Luke 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 translated from the Greek word "παρθένος" (parthenos), which signifies a woman who has not had sexual relations. This is crucial in the context of the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, which foretells that a virgin will conceive and bear a son. The emphasis on Mary's virginity underscores the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception, affirming the divine intervention in the birth of Christ. This aligns with the conservative Christian belief in the literal fulfillment of prophecy and the supernatural aspects of Jesus' birth.

pledged in marriage
The phrase "pledged in marriage" refers to the Jewish custom of betrothal, which was a legally binding agreement, more significant than modern-day engagements. The Greek word used here is "μνηστευθείση" (mnēsteutheisē), indicating a formal promise of marriage. This period was a time of preparation and commitment, reflecting the seriousness and sanctity of marriage in Jewish culture. It highlights the faithfulness and integrity expected of both Mary and Joseph, setting the stage for the divine plan to unfold within the bounds of human customs.

to a man named Joseph
Joseph, whose name in Hebrew is "יוסף" (Yosef), meaning "he will add," is a significant figure in the narrative. He is described as a righteous man in Matthew 1:19, chosen to be the earthly guardian of Jesus. His lineage from David is crucial, as it fulfills the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Joseph's role, though often understated, is vital in providing Jesus with a legal and royal lineage, affirming God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

of the house of David
This phrase emphasizes the Messianic lineage, as the house of David is central to Jewish expectations of the Messiah. The Greek "οἴκου Δαυίδ" (oikou Dauid) connects Jesus to the royal line, fulfilling prophecies such as Jeremiah 23:5 and Isaiah 11:1. This lineage is not just a matter of heritage but a testament to God's sovereign plan throughout history, weaving together promises and fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

And the virgin’s name was Mary
Mary, or "Μαριάμ" (Mariam) in Greek, is a name of Hebrew origin, "מִרְיָם" (Miryam), meaning "beloved" or "bitter." Her name is significant, as she is chosen to bear the Savior of the world. Mary's humble background and her response to God's call exemplify faith and obedience. Her role as the mother of Jesus is honored in Christian tradition, and her willingness to accept God's plan is a model of discipleship and trust in God's promises. Her account is a reminder of how God often chooses the humble and lowly to accomplish His divine purposes.

(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
to
πρὸς (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.


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NT Gospels: Luke 1:27 To a virgin pledged to be married (Luke Lu Lk)
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