Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

KJV

εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ· ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.

Greek NT

Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.

Vulgate

And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

ASV

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Douay-Rheims

Open in reader with connections →

In the original Greek

17 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

Μαρία
maria
noun · 54×
αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γίνομαι
ginomai
verb · 667×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δούλη
doule
noun · 3×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κατά
kata
preposition · 470×
κύριος
kurios
noun · 717×
λέγω
lego
verb · 2256×
σύ
su
pronoun · 1071×
ἀπέρχομαι
aperchomai
verb · 117×
ἀπό
apo
preposition · 640×
ἄγγελος
aggelos
verb · 176×
ἐγώ
ego
pronoun · 1720×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὁράω
orao
verb · 682×
ῥῆμα
rema
noun · 67×

Theophany

Historic Christian voices

16 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§64Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts.22 The prophets proclaim a radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which will include all the nations.23 Above all, the poor and humble of the Lord will be…
§148The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be…
§494At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."139 Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother…
…and 8 more from this source.
Christ assumed actual flesh, conceived and born of the Virgin. 1. Those, therefore, who allege that He took nothing from the Virgin do greatly err, [since,] in order that they may cast away the inheritance of the flesh, they also reject the analogy [between Him and Adam]. For if the one [who sprang] from the earth had indeed formation and substance from both the hand and workma…
Wishing in His supreme goodness and wisdom to effect the redemption of the world, when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, that we might receive the adoption of sons. The Blessed Virgin, predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, was on this earth the virgin Mother…
In accordance with this design, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' See Luke i. 38. But Eve was disobedient; for she did not obey when as yet she was a virgin. And as she, having indeed a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless a virgin, having become disobedient, was made the cause of death, both to h…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 17:23 — Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.
  • 2Sam 7:25 — And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
  • Gen 24:58 — And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
  • Prov 31:26 — She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
  • Ps 86:16 — O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
  • Ps 116:16 — O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
  • Ps 119:38 — Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
  • Rom 4:20 — He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;