Luke 1:28 kjv

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luke 1:28 nkjv

And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

Luke 1:28 niv

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Luke 1:28 esv

And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

Luke 1:28 nlt

Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! "

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 28 Meaning

Luke 1:28 records the Angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary. It signifies God's singular grace and profound favor bestowed upon her, indicating His active presence and a unique divine blessing related to her pivotal role in bringing the Messiah into the world. It marks the commencement of the Incarnation narrative, where heaven intervenes in human history through a humble virgin.

Luke 1 28 Context

Luke 1:28 is part of the annunciation of Jesus' birth to Mary by the Angel Gabriel. Preceding this, Gabriel had appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Lord. This sets a divine pattern of supernatural birth announcements. Mary is a young virgin from Nazareth, a humble town not held in high regard. She is engaged to Joseph, a carpenter, both of the lineage of David. The cultural context emphasizes the significance of virginity, the scandal of a pregnancy outside marriage, and the high regard for motherhood. This divine visitation is a stark contrast to her ordinary life, signaling God's choice of a humble vessel for His extraordinary plan, thus emphasizing God's sovereignty over human expectation and social norms. The interaction directly challenges any contemporary beliefs that divine favor was limited to the powerful, rich, or prominent, instead highlighting God's preference for the humble.

Luke 1 28 Word analysis

• And the angel: Refers to Gabriel, identified in Lk 1:19 as standing "in the presence of God," signifying divine authority and direct divine commissioning. Angels act as messengers of God (Heb 1:14).
• came in unto her: Denotes a personal, direct, and authoritative approach into Mary's private space. It was not a dream or vision but a physical manifestation.
• and said: Indicates a formal, spoken declaration of a message of profound significance.
• Hail (Greek: χαῖρε, chaire): While a common Greek greeting (meaning "rejoice" or "greetings"), in this divine context, it carries an emphasis on spiritual joy, often used in Septuagint for messianic expectation (e.g., Zep 3:14; Zec 9:9), commanding Mary to rejoice in what God is about to do.
• thou that art highly favoured (Greek: κεχαριτωμένη, kecharitōmenē): This unique Greek perfect passive participle is central.
  • κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitōmenē): Derives from charitoō, meaning "to bestow grace upon," "to make graceful," "to favor." The perfect tense indicates an action completed in the past with ongoing results—Mary has been and continues to be divinely graced. The passive voice emphasizes that God is the sole agent; Mary is the recipient, not the originator, of this favor. It means "one who has been given grace," or "one upon whom God has poured out His favor." This does not imply Mary's inherent sinlessness or divine nature, but rather God's sovereign and gracious choice to empower her for an extraordinary role.
• the Lord is with thee: A classic Old Testament assurance given by God or His messengers to individuals called for significant tasks, guaranteeing divine presence, help, and protection (e.g., Gen 28:15 to Jacob, Jos 1:9 to Joshua, Jdg 6:12 to Gideon). It reassures Mary that she will not face the coming challenge alone.
• blessed art thou among women: This superlative expression singles Mary out as uniquely honored by God above all other women. It is confirmed by Elisabeth in Lk 1:42. This does not suggest a position of worship or adoration for Mary, but highlights her unique privilege in salvation history as the chosen mother of the Son of God, differentiating her from figures like Jael (Jdg 5:24) whose "blessed among women" title was for a physical act of deliverance. Mary's blessing relates to bearing the Source of spiritual deliverance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the angel came in unto her, and said": This sets a profound and direct divine encounter. It underscores the divine initiative; God is actively engaging with Mary, initiating the Incarnation not through a distant message, but through personal interaction with His chosen messenger. This is not Mary seeking God, but God seeking Mary.
• "Hail, thou that art highly favoured": This phrase constitutes the essence of the salutation. The commanding "Hail" paired with the emphatic "highly favoured" highlights the absolute sovereignty of God's grace. It declares God's pre-election and active working upon Mary, establishing His grace as the sole foundation for her role. This greeting already hints at the extraordinary nature of what is to be announced.
• "the Lord is with thee": This functions as a divine seal of approval and assurance. In light of the extraordinary nature of her calling, this promise is crucial. It affirms that Mary's unique favor from God implies His direct, empowering presence for the unparalleled task she is about to undertake.
• "blessed art thou among women": This statement publicly confirms and elevates Mary's divinely appointed honor and status, preparing her for and underscoring the magnitude of the forthcoming announcement. It solidifies her unique position in God's redemptive plan as the chosen vessel for the Incarnation.

Luke 1 28 Bonus section

• Mary's Humility: Following this astonishing greeting, Mary's immediate response (Lk 1:29) is one of perplexity and quiet thought, not self-exaltation. This contrasts with Zechariah's doubt (Lk 1:20) and highlights her submissive character.
• A "Word" from God: This greeting is more than just polite words; it is a creative and empowering "word" from God. Just as God spoke and creation came into being, His spoken word through Gabriel here initiates and enables Mary's part in the Incarnation.
• Basis for "Ave Maria": The opening lines of the well-known "Hail Mary" prayer are directly drawn from this verse and Lk 1:42, reflecting its profound significance in Christian tradition and devotion across centuries.
• Not Her Inherent Goodness: This verse strongly emphasizes God's sovereign grace. While Mary was a righteous young woman, her chosenness stems entirely from God's unmerited favor, not from a "fullness" of grace or merit that she generated herself. The focus remains on God as the Giver.

Luke 1 28 Commentary

Luke 1:28 encapsulates the divine breakthrough into human history through a humble means. Gabriel's greeting to Mary is no ordinary salutation; it is a proclamation of unparalleled divine grace. The phrase "highly favoured" (κεχαριτωμένη, kecharitōmenē) is crucial, emphasizing that Mary's fitness for her role is solely by God's unilateral bestowing of grace, not due to any inherent merit of her own. She is an object of divine favor. The assurance "the Lord is with thee" resonates with Old Testament promises given to those chosen for significant tasks, providing divine strength and validation for the monumental calling ahead. Her being "blessed among women" highlights her singular election, placing her in a uniquely privileged position as the mother of the Messiah. This verse reveals God's consistent pattern of choosing the humble and unlikely to fulfill His most significant purposes, demonstrating that His power is perfected in weakness and His glory revealed through grace-given ability.