Luke 1:35
What does Luke 1:35 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 1:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 1:35 means
The angel explains: the Holy Spirit will come upon Mary, and the power of the Most High will overshadow her, so the holy thing conceived will be called the Son of God. This clarifies the supernatural mode of conception—by Spirit action—and affirms Jesus’ divine sonship. The language of overshadowing recalls God’s protective and creative presence. Luke teaches that Jesus’ origin is unique: he is both truly human and uniquely divine, conceived by the Holy Spirit rather than by human procreation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the angel answering said to her, [The] Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of [the] Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son ofGod.
Context
This verse answers Mary’s question about how conception will occur. It reveals the means (Holy Spirit) and the result (Son of God). The explanation links Jesus’ divine identity to a miraculous conception and prepares Mary for the crowning confirmation—Elisabeth’s pregnancy—and for her obedient response.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 20:31
but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
- Matthew 26:63
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
- Mark 1:24
saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
- Matthew 4:3
And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
- John 1:34
And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.
- Psalms 2:7
I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
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