Luke 1:35 (KJV)

What does Luke 1:35 mean?

Luke 1:35 means that the angel is explaining to Mary how she will become pregnant with Jesus: the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and God's power will cause this miraculous conception, so the child to be born will be called the Son of God. This verse describes the supernatural origin of Jesus, not through ordinary human means, but by God's direct action.

In this scene, the angel Gabriel is speaking to Mary, who has just asked how she could have a child since she is a virgin. Gabriel responds by describing a unique act of God: the Holy Spirit will be involved, and God's own power will "overshadow" her, leading to the birth of a child who will be holy and called God's Son. This sets up the special identity of Jesus right from the start of Luke's Gospel.

The Greek behind Luke 1:35

• Ἅγιον πνεῦμα (hagion pneuma, "Holy Ghost"): This phrase refers to God's Spirit, often understood as God's active presence and power. The emphasis here is on the Spirit as the direct cause of the conception, not a human father.
• δύναμις Ὑψίστου (dynamis Hypsistou, "power of the Highest"): This phrase means God's supreme power. The word δύναμις (dynamis) often carries the sense of miraculous or divine ability, highlighting that what happens to Mary is an act of God beyond normal human experience.
• ἐπισκιάσει (episkiazō, "overshadow"): This word means to cover or envelop, and in biblical contexts, it sometimes points to God's presence (as with the cloud in the Old Testament). Here, it suggests a mysterious, protective, and powerful action by God.
• γεννώμενον (gennōmenon, "born"): This word is used for something brought into being. The verse stresses that what is born from Mary is holy and uniquely God's Son because of this divine action.

Why Luke 1:35 matters

• Luke 1:35 clarifies that Jesus' birth is not the result of a human relationship, but a unique work of God, which addresses Mary's question about how she could have a child as a virgin.
• The verse emphasizes Jesus' identity as both holy and the Son of God, setting the foundation for understanding who Jesus is throughout the rest of Luke's Gospel.
• By using language that echoes God's presence in the Old Testament, Luke 1:35 connects Jesus' birth to God's ongoing work in history, showing continuity between the old and the new.