Luke 1:36 kjv
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.
Luke 1:36 nkjv
Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
Luke 1:36 niv
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:36 esv
And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Luke 1:36 nlt
What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
Luke 1 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:11 | Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. | Sarah's old age and barrenness parallel Elizabeth's condition. |
| Gen 18:14 | "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." | Divine omnipotence over natural limitations. |
| Gen 21:1-2 | The Lord visited Sarah as he had said... Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age. | Fulfillment of God's promise for a barren woman in old age. |
| Gen 25:21 | Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. | Another biblical instance of barrenness overcome by divine intervention. |
| Gen 30:22-23 | Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. ... "God has taken away my reproach." | Rachel's barrenness removed by God, her "reproach" taken away. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? | Highlights God's unchanging faithfulness to His promises. |
| Judg 13:2-5 | There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. | Similar account of a barren woman miraculously conceiving Samson. |
| 1 Sam 1:2 | He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. | Hannah's barrenness and suffering before Samuel's miraculous birth. |
| 1 Sam 1:20 | Hannah conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” | God opens Hannah's womb in response to prayer. |
| 1 Sam 2:21 | Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. | God continues to bless Hannah's faithfulness. |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’ | God's sovereign control and ability to fulfill His plans. |
| Jer 32:17 | “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power... Nothing is too hard for you." | Reaffirmation of God's omnipotence and capacity for the impossible. |
| Jer 32:27 | "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?" | God challenges human perception of impossibility with His divine power. |
| Mal 3:1 | “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me..." | Prophecy fulfilled by John the Baptist as the forerunner. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes." | Prophecy of Elijah's return, foreshadowing John the Baptist's role. |
| Matt 19:26 | But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” | Universal principle of God's unlimited power. |
| Mark 10:27 | Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” | Reinforces the divine principle of overcoming human impossibility. |
| Luke 1:5 | There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah... and his wife... was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | Establishes Elizabeth's background and advanced age, setting the context for her barrenness. |
| Luke 1:17 | He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children... to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. | John's purpose and identity are linked to this miraculous birth. |
| Luke 1:37 | “For nothing will be impossible with God.” | Immediate and direct thematic follow-up, explaining the significance of Elizabeth's pregnancy. |
| Luke 1:39-45 | In those days Mary arose and went with haste... entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. | Mary's personal visit to Elizabeth verifies the angelic sign and results in John's leap. |
| Luke 1:45 | And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. | Connects Elizabeth's conception to Mary's faith and the certainty of God's promises. |
| Rom 4:18-21 | In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations... without weakening in faith, he considered his own body, which was as good as dead... or the barrenness of Sarah's womb. | Abraham's faith in God's power to grant a miraculous birth. |
| Heb 11:11 | By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. | Sarah's example highlights faith as a response to God's promise and faithfulness. |
| Job 42:2 | “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” | Confession of God's absolute sovereignty and power. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 36 Meaning
Luke 1:36 provides Mary with a tangible and immediate sign of God's miraculous power and faithfulness, given through the angel Gabriel during the Annunciation. It confirms that the impossible is happening right within her family, with her relative Elizabeth, who was considered too old and had always been barren, now six months pregnant. This specific detail serves to validate Gabriel's equally astounding message regarding Mary's own supernatural conception of Jesus, demonstrating that "nothing will be impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).
Luke 1 36 Context
Luke 1:36 is delivered by the angel Gabriel to Mary during the Annunciation in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38). This verse immediately follows Gabriel's revelation to Mary that she, a virgin, would conceive and bear the Son of God, Jesus, who would be the heir to David's throne and reign forever (Luke 1:31-33). Mary, questioning how this could be (Luke 1:34), receives this verse as a concrete sign.
The broader context of Luke 1 introduces two miraculous births: John the Baptist's and Jesus Christ's. Elizabeth's advanced age and previous barrenness are highlighted (Luke 1:7, 1:18) as essential elements confirming divine intervention. In Jewish culture, barrenness was often seen as a significant reproach or misfortune (Gen 30:23; 1 Sam 1:6), making Elizabeth's conception a powerful reversal of societal shame and a clear demonstration of God's active hand. The fact that Mary and Elizabeth were relatives meant that the miraculous event in Elizabeth's life was a verifiable and relatable occurrence for Mary, directly attesting to God's ability to transcend human limitations.
Luke 1 36 Word analysis
And behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ - kai idou):
- Word: "idou" (ἰδοὺ) is an interjection meaning "Behold!", "Look!", "See!".
- Significance: It serves to draw Mary's immediate and emphatic attention to a highly significant and observable fact. It signals something truly remarkable that validates the divine message. This isn't merely information; it's a divine pronouncement demanding acknowledgement.
your relative (συγγενής σου - syngenes sou):
- Word: "syngenes" (συγγενής) denotes a kinsman or relative by blood. "sou" means "your."
- Significance: This emphasizes the close, familial connection between Mary and Elizabeth. The miraculous event is not remote or abstract but occurring within her own family network, making it a tangible and credible sign for Mary. It also subtly connects the priestly lineage (Elizabeth) and the royal Davidic lineage (Mary), showing God's work across key lines.
Elizabeth (Ἐλισάβετ - Elisabet):
- Word: From Hebrew "Elisheba," meaning "my God is an oath" or "God of abundance."
- Significance: Her very name suggests God's faithfulness and provision. Her barrenness and advanced age previously seemed to contradict her name's meaning, but her pregnancy dramatically fulfills it.
in her old age (ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς - en gērei autēs):
- Word: "gērei" (γήρει) refers to old age, decrepitude.
- Significance: This detail accentuates the extraordinary nature of Elizabeth's conception, mirroring Abraham and Sarah's situation. It underscores that human inability is no barrier to God's power and plan, providing a direct, living example to Mary who faced her own "impossible" scenario.
has also conceived a son (συνείληφεν καὶ αὐτὴ υἱόν - syneilēphen kai autē huion):
- Words: "syneilēphen" (συνείληφεν) means "she has conceived" (perfect tense, indicating a completed action with continuing results). "kai autē" (καὶ αὐτὴ) means "even she" or "she also."
- Significance: The phrase "also conceived" directly parallels Mary's impending conception, implying that if God can do this for Elizabeth, He can certainly do it for Mary. The perfect tense signifies that the conception is a verifiable fact, already accomplished and observable.
and this is the sixth month for her (καὶ οὗτος μηνὸς ἕκτος ἐστὶν - kai houtos mēnos hektos estin):
- Words: "mēnos hektos" (μηνὸς ἕκτος) means "sixth month."
- Significance: Provides a precise and measurable timeline. This verifiable detail allows Mary to seek confirmation and witness the miracle herself (which she does in Luke 1:39-45). It signifies God's deliberate and punctual execution of His plans.
who was called barren (τῇ καλουμένῃ στεῖρᾳ - tē kaloumenē steira):
- Word: "steira" (στεῖρᾳ) means barren or sterile.
- Significance: This identifies Elizabeth's longstanding condition and social status. It underscores the severity of the human obstacle that God has just effortlessly overcome. Her prior "reproach" (Lk 1:25) makes the divine reversal even more pronounced, a powerful testament to God's grace and ability to restore dignity.
Luke 1 36 Bonus section
The provision of Elizabeth's pregnancy as a "sign" for Mary (Luke 1:36-37) is an act of divine compassion and pedagogical wisdom. Gabriel doesn't offer Mary an abstract theological discourse, but a verifiable, relational experience. This mirrors God's way throughout scripture, providing tangible signs—like the rainbow (Gen 9:12-13), the burning bush (Ex 3:2-3), Gideon's fleece (Judg 6:36-40), or the birth of Immanuel (Isa 7:14)—to confirm His word and presence to His people. Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy serves as a precursor to a greater miracle, not merely in terms of its biological uniqueness but in its ultimate purpose: paving the way for the Incarnation. The news of John's miraculous conception is inherently linked to Jesus' birth, symbolizing the turning of ages, from the old covenant anticipating the Messiah to the arrival of the Messiah Himself. This verse is thus both a proof of God's omnipotence and an intimate preparation for the coming of salvation.
Luke 1 36 Commentary
Luke 1:36 is a pivot point in the Annunciation, offering concrete evidence to bolster Mary's faith amidst an astounding announcement. Gabriel doesn't merely tell Mary; he provides a personal, verifiable, and familial example of God's power over impossibility. The seemingly simple mention of Elizabeth's six-month pregnancy and past barrenness encapsulates profound theological truths. It echoes a recurring pattern throughout the Bible where God overcomes human limitations—old age, barrenness, societal reproach—to fulfill His redemptive purposes, from Sarah and Abraham to Hannah. This familial example assures Mary that the divine power overshadowing her womb for Jesus' conception is neither arbitrary nor beyond God's established way of working. It is a sign not merely to believe in God's power in general, but in His specific faithfulness to act for His people, breaking through human impossibilities. It foreshadows the miraculous nature of Jesus' own birth and highlights God's sovereign initiative in fulfilling His covenants.