And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
While "highly favored" sounds like Mary earned God's special attention, the original Greek actually emphasizes that she received this favor as a gift. The greeting isn't just a compliment; it's the angel highlighting that God’s presence with her is the reason for her blessed state.
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel Gabriel has just been sent by God to a young woman named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth. She is a virgin, engaged to Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel’s surprising appearance and greeting deeply agitate Mary as he begins to deliver a message of divine favor and an unimaginable future.
The angel Gabriel’s first words to Mary are profound. What does it truly mean to be 'highly favored'?
The Greek word used here for 'highly favored' (kecharitōmenē) is a perfect passive participle. This tells us two key things:
This is different from the later translation 'full of grace.' While Mary certainly possessed grace, the angel's greeting emphasizes that she has received God's abundant favor, making her accepted by Him. Think of it as being 'graced' or 'much graced,' rather than 'full of grace' herself.
The angel doesn't just deliver news; he offers a profound blessing. What does 'the Lord is with you' really signify?
The angel’s greeting, 'the Lord is with you,' is more than just a statement; it’s a powerful salutation rooted in the Old Testament.
It echoes the common blessing, 'The Lord be with you,' which signifies God’s presence, protection, and favor. For Mary, this greeting is not just a standard wish but a divine confirmation.
It announces that the extraordinary events about to unfold are not happening to her, but with her, under God's direct presence and guidance. This assures her that she is not alone in this monumental task.
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Understand the original words
charitoō · Greek Verb (participle)
An expression of grace or divine kindness; it denotes one who is the recipient of God's unmerited benevolence, choice, or special gracious regard.
ho Kyrios meta sou · Greek Prepositional phrase
A state of divine presence, protection, and partnership; it signifies that God is actively working through or dwelling with an individual to accomplish His sovereign purposes.
The angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!', lands in a world ripe with messianic expectation and under the heavy hand of Roman rule. This divine announcement to a humble virgin in obscure Nazareth signifies God's powerful intervention in history, choosing the unexpected to fulfill His grandest promises.
c. 2nd Century BC
Period of Roman Influence
Judea gradually came under Roman influence, eventually becoming a Roman province. This period saw significant political and social upheaval, with local rulers often appointed by Rome.
c. 2 BC - AD 30/33
Life of Jesus Christ
The birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. This period directly follows the events described in Luke 1.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great's Reign Ends
Herod the Great, the client king of Judea, died around this time. His death led to a division of his kingdom and increased Roman direct involvement, setting the stage for subsequent events.
c. 1st Century AD
Roman Census and Taxations
Rome conducted periodic censuses for taxation and administration purposes. These were significant events that affected many, including Joseph and Mary, as described in Luke.
c. 1st Century AD
Jewish Expectation of a Messiah
There was a widespread expectation among Jewish people for a Messiah to come, who would deliver them and restore their kingdom. This anticipation frames the significance of Gabriel's announcement.
c. Late 1st Century AD
Writing of the Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke was written, likely in the latter half of the first century AD, by the physician Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul. This places the narrative within the early spread of Christianity.
Unknown (likely c. late 1st Century AD)— this verse
The Annunciation to Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth to announce that she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus, who will be called the Son of the Most High.
This passage shows a similar greeting from reapers to a worker, 'The Lord be with you!', highlighting a common, warm salutation that acknowledges God's presence with someone.
Daniel 9:21The angel Gabriel appears here as well, sent to deliver a message of profound divine revelation, mirroring his role in Luke 1 and emphasizing his function as a messenger of God's plans.
Ephesians 1:6This verse uses the same Greek word translated as 'highly favored' in Luke 1:28, explaining that believers are 'accepted' in the Beloved, showing a divine status granted by God's grace.
Luke 11:27-28When Jesus is addressed with a similar exclamation of blessedness for his mother, he redirects the focus to those who 'hear the word of God and keep it,' suggesting true blessedness is found in obedience, not just in chosen status.
calvinLuke 1:26-33: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,"
- Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27. To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28. And the angel, coming in to her, said, Hail, thou who hast found favor, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29. But when she had seen him, she was agit…
jfbLuke 1:26-38: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,"
Lu 1:26-38. Annunciation of Christ.(See on [1535]Mt 1:18-21).26. sixth month—of Elisabeth's time.Joseph, of the house of David—(See on [1536]Mt 1:16).
While "highly favored" sounds like Mary earned God's special attention, the original Greek actually emphasizes that she received this favor as a gift. The greeting isn't just a compliment; it's the angel highlighting that God’s presence with her is the reason for her blessed state.
The angel Gabriel has just been sent by God to a young woman named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth. She is a virgin, engaged to Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel’s surprising appearance and greeting deeply agitate Mary as he begins to deliver a message of divine favor and an unimaginable future.
The angel Gabriel has just been sent by God to a young woman named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth. She is a virgin, engaged to Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel’s surprising appearance and greeting deeply agitate Mary as he begins to deliver a message of divine favor and an unimaginable future.
"And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”" — While "highly favored" sounds like Mary earned God's special attention, the original Greek actually emphasizes that she received this favor as a gift. The greeting isn't just a compliment; it's the…
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Last reviewed October 2026