Devine Scripture

Luke 1:41

What does Luke 1:41 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:41 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:41 means

When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn child leaped and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The infant’s movement is interpreted as a recognition of the presence of the Messiah in Mary’s womb. Elisabeth’s filling with the Spirit enables prophetic speech, indicating God’s interpretive work even before birth. This shows the Spirit’s sovereign initiative and the interconnectedness of John’s and Jesus’ callings, as even unborn children respond to divine revelation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with [the] Holy Spirit,

Context

This verse is the climactic supernatural response to Mary’s visit. It connects prenatal activity with Spirit empowerment. The leaping child and Spirit-filling lead to Elisabeth’s prophetic blessing and Mary’s song of praise, which form the centre of this section.

v.40and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

v.41This passage

v.42and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 25:22

    And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah.

  • Revelation 1:10

    I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

  • Acts 6:3

    Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

  • Ephesians 5:18

    And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

  • Acts 7:55

    But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

  • Acts 4:8

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,

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