Who Was Mary, the Mother of Jesus?
Who Was Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Mary was a young Jewish virgin chosen by God to bear the Messiah — a woman of extraordinary faith, humility, and obedience who said 'be it unto me according to thy word.'
Key verse: Luke 1:38 (KJV)
Mary was a young Jewish virgin chosen by God to bear the Messiah — a woman of extraordinary faith, humility, and obedience who said 'be it unto me according to thy word.'
Mary was a young Jewish virgin chosen by God to bear the Messiah — a woman of extraordinary faith, humility, and obedience who said 'be it unto me according to thy word.'
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." — Luke 1:38 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Mary (Miriam) was a young woman from Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph, when the angel Gabriel appeared with astonishing news: 'Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS' (Luke 1:31). Despite the social risk and personal cost, Mary responded with faith: 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word' (Luke 1:38). Her song of praise (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55) reveals deep knowledge of Scripture and humble gratitude. She treasured events in her heart (Luke 2:19,51). She was present at Jesus' first miracle (John 2:1-5), followed His ministry, stood at the cross (John 19:25), and was entrusted to John's care. She was among the believers in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Mary is honored as 'blessed among women' (Luke 1:28,42), but she herself pointed to God as her Savior (Luke 1:47), acknowledging her own need for grace. She is a model of faith, not an object of worship.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Faith?
What the Bible teaches about faith, believing in God, and trusting His promises.
Key Scripture References
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
"My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
"The angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does the Bible Say About the Virgin Birth?
The Bible teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy and ensuring Christ was both fully God and fully man.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
What is the difference between faith and works?
Faith is trusting in God for salvation; works are the righteous actions that flow from genuine faith. The Bible teaches salvation by faith alone, but true faith always produces good works.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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The handmaid of the Lord — her faith, her song, and her Son.
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Luke. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Luke on day 294 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Was Mary, the Mother of Jesus?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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