King James Version

What Does Luke 1:28 Mean?

“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. highly: or, graciously accepted, or, of much grace”

Context

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

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. highly: or, graciously accepted, or, of much grace

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

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Topics in This Verse

Grace

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(28) **Highly favoured.**—The verb is the same as that which is translated, “hath made us accepted “in Ephesians 1:6; and, on the whole, this, which is expressed in one of the marginal readings, seems the truest. The *plena gratiâ* of the Vulgate has no warrant in the meaning of the word. **The Lord is with thee.**—Better, *the Lord be with thee,* as the more usual formula of salutation, as in Ruth 2:4. **Blessed art thou among women.**—The words are omitted in many of the best MSS.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 1:28 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.