And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Mary's question, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" isn't a statement of disbelief, but a humble request for understanding. She's not questioning God's power but seeking clarity on the mechanics of this miraculous event, showing a thoughtful faith that ponders before fully grasping.
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive and bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary, understandably astonished, asks for clarification on how this can happen, given her virginity. The angel then explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of God will overshadow her, confirming the miraculous nature of the conception and also pointing to her relative Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy as proof that nothing is impossible with God.
When Mary heard the angel's astonishing news, her immediate response wasn't doubt, but a question. What does this reveal about her faith?
Mary's question, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?' isn't a sign of unbelief like Zacharias's 'How shall I know this?' (Luke 1:18). Instead, it stems from her understanding of natural processes and a genuine desire to understand how God's promise would be fulfilled.
The Heart of the Question
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Mary's question highlights the tension between God's boundless power and the physical realities of human life. How does the angel's response bridge this gap?
The angel's answer to Mary is crucial, not just for her, but for us. It directly addresses her concern about her virginity by revealing the divine method.
The Divine Intervention
Understand the original words
andra · Greek Noun
A woman who has not had sexual relations; in the context of the birth of Jesus, it underscores the miraculous, non-human agency of the incarnation.
Mary's question, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?' reflects a natural human inquiry about the mechanics of a divine miracle, not doubt. It highlights her understanding of natural processes and her desire for clarity, distinguishing her from Zechariah's more skeptical question.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Virgin Conception
Isaiah prophesies that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, a sign that would later be understood as pointing to the Messiah.
c. 6 BC
Birth of John the Baptist
The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, a priest, announcing the birth of John the Baptist to his elderly and previously barren wife, Elizabeth.
c. 6 BC— this verse
The Annunciation to Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive a son through the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God.
c. 5 BC
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Mary travels to the hill country of Judea to visit her relative Elizabeth, sharing the news of her miraculous pregnancy and receiving confirmation of God's work.
c. 5 BC
Joseph Learns of Mary's Pregnancy
Mary's betrothed, Joseph, learns of her pregnancy and, intending to divorce her quietly, is visited by an angel who confirms the miraculous nature of the conception and reassures him.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
Due to a Roman census requiring people to register in their ancestral towns, Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and laid in a manger.
This passage directly echoes Mary's question in Luke, showing that even in the Old Testament, God's power is presented as capable of overcoming natural impossibilities, with the angel reassuring Abraham that nothing is too hard for the Lord.
Isaiah 7:14This prophecy of a virgin conceiving a son is directly linked to Jesus' birth, highlighting the miraculous nature of the conception that Mary questions, and foreshadowing the event she is about to experience.
Matthew 1:18-25This passage provides Joseph's perspective on the miraculous conception, detailing how an angel also had to reassure him, reinforcing the extraordinary nature of the event and the faith required from both Mary and Joseph.
Romans 4:19-21This passage speaks of Abraham's faith, where he did not consider his own body as good as dead, reflecting on the principle that faith in God's promises means believing in His power to do the impossible, much like Mary's questioning led to deeper faith.
expositorsLuke 1:34: "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
Chapter 4THE VIRGIN MOTHER . THE Beautiful Gate of the Jewish Temple opened into the "Court of the Women"-so named from the fact that they were not allowed any nearer approach towards the Holy Place. And as we open the gate of the third Gospel we enter the Court of the Women; for more than any other Evangelist, St. Luke records their loving and varied ministries. Perhaps this is owing to his profession, whic…
bensonLuke 1:34: "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
Luke 1:34-38 . Then said Mary, How shall this be — How can I immediately conceive a child, (for so the angel meant, and so she understood him to mean,) seeing I know not a man? — This was not the language of distrust, or of doubt, respecting what the angel said, but of a desire to be further instructed, for the direction of her conduct. She so inquired concerning the manner, as not to doubt of the fact. Some…
Mary's question, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" isn't a statement of disbelief, but a humble request for understanding. She's not questioning God's power but seeking clarity on the mechanics of this miraculous event, showing a thoughtful faith that ponders before fully grasping.
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive and bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary, understandably astonished, asks for clarification on how this can happen, given her virginity. The angel then explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of God will overshadow her, confirming the miraculous nature of the conception and also pointing to her relative Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy as proof that nothing is impossible with God.
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive and bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary, understandably astonished, asks for clarification on how this can happen, given her virginity. The angel then explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of God will overshadow her, confirming the miraculous nature of the conception and also pointing to her relative Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy as proof that nothing is impossible with God.
"And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”" — Mary's question, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" isn't a statement of disbelief, but a humble request for understanding. She's not questioning God's power but seeking clarity on the mechanic…
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Last reviewed October 2026