Luke 1 · Verse 34

Luke 1:34

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Luke 1:34, King James Version

Luke 1:34 in other translations

BSB“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
WEBMary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
ASVAnd Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
YLTAnd Mary said unto the messenger, ‘How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'
DARBYBut Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?
BBEAnd Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?
WebsterThen said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

What does Luke 1:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. How, &c.--not the unbelief of Zacharias, "Whereby shall I know this?" but, taking the fact for granted, "How is it to be, so contrary to the unbroken law of human birth?" Instead of reproof, therefore, her question is answered in mysterious detail.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34. Lk 1:35. No material from Barnes on this particular verse.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Seeing I know not a man - Or, husband. As she was only contracted to Joseph, and not as yet married, she knew that this conception could not have yet taken place; and she modestly inquires by what means the promise of the angel is to be fulfilled in order to regulate her conduct accordingly.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:26-38

We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:26-38 →

Luke 1:34 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἶπενEipenSaidG2036
δὲdethenG1161
ΜαριὰμMariamMaryG3137
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄγγελον·angelonangel;G32
πῶςpōsHowG4459
ἔσταιestaiwill beG1510
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
ἐπεὶepeisinceG1893
ἄνδραandraa manG435
οὐounotG3756
γινώσκω;¶ginōskōI know?G1097

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jud 13:8-12; Ac 9:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:33

    And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

  • Luke 1:34

    Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

  • Luke 1:35

    And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces María dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto? porque no conozco varón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Marie dit à l’ange: Comment ceci arrivera-t-il, puisque je ne connais pas d’homme?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Maria aber sprach zu dem Engel: Wie wird dies sein, dieweil ich keinen Mann kenne?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?