Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The angel uses "overshadow" to describe God's power, hinting at a protective, yet mysterious divine presence like a cloud, rather than a consuming fire. This imagery emphasizes that God's work in Mary is both powerful and gentle, shielding her while bringing forth life in a way beyond human comprehension.
Mary has just expressed her bewilderment at the angel's news that she, a virgin, will conceive a son. The angel responds by explaining that this miraculous conception won't happen through natural means, but through the direct, powerful work of the Holy Spirit, making the child uniquely holy and the Son of God. This divine intervention is emphasized by the concept of God's power "overshadowing" Mary, similar to how God's presence filled the tabernacle, signifying a sacred and mysterious indwelling.
How does God actively step into our world? This verse describes a powerful, tangible divine action.
The angel Gabriel's message to Mary isn't just about a future event; it's about God's immediate, powerful presence.
The Holy Spirit's Work
The phrase 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you' speaks of the Spirit as the active agent. This isn't a passive blessing, but a dynamic force that initiates life. It echoes the Spirit's work in creation, bringing life out of the void.
The Power of the Most High
'The power of the Most High will overshadow you' uses a beautiful metaphor. Think of a cloud overshadowing a sacred space, indicating God's presence and protection. This power isn't distant; it's intimately involved, shielding and empowering Mary for this unique task. It's God's energy, specifically at work to bring about His plan.
Why is Jesus called 'holy' and 'the Son of God'? This verse directly links His conception to these divine titles.
The miraculous conception isn't just a detail; it's the reason for Jesus' unique identity.
The 'Holy Thing'
The angel states, 'therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called holy—the Son of God.' The term 'holy thing' points to the perfect purity of Jesus. Because His conception was solely the work of the Holy Spirit, not through human union, He was set apart from sin from the very beginning.
The Title 'Son of God'
This divine title isn't just a designation; it speaks to His unique relationship with God. While 'Son of Man' emphasizes His humanity, 'Son of God' highlights His divine nature and origin. The supernatural conception is the tangible evidence of this divine parentage, establishing His identity as more than just a great prophet or teacher, but God Himself in human form.
Understand the original words
Pneuma Hagion · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity; the active agent of God in creation, sanctification, and the incarnation of the Son.
dynamis · Greek Noun
The manifestation of God's sovereign efficacy and ability to perform His will; it is distinct from human strength and signifies divine intervention.
episkiasei · Greek Verb
To cast a shadow over; in biblical language, this refers to the divine presence or glory enveloping something or someone, signaling God's protection and creative activity.
hagion · Greek Adjective
Separated from sin, set apart for God's use, and possessing the essential character of God; signifying moral purity and divine quality.
Mary's question, 'How shall this be?' wasn't a sign of doubt but of astonishment at God's mysterious plan, echoing centuries of prophecy about a virgin birth and a divine Son.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy of Immanuel
The prophet Isaiah foretells that a virgin will conceive and bear a son named Immanuel, meaning 'God with us,' a sign pointing to God's faithfulness amidst national turmoil.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar deports a select group of young Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, conquers Babylon, setting the stage for the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and initiating the era of salvation.
c. AD 25-27
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The language of the Spirit 'coming upon' and the 'power overshadowing' here echoes the Spirit brooding over the unformed creation, suggesting a divine act of bringing forth life in a miraculous way.
Isaiah 7:14This Old Testament prophecy of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son named Immanuel ('God with us') directly foreshadows the miraculous conception described in Luke 1:35.
John 1:14This verse states that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, directly aligning with the concept of God's power overshadowing Mary to bring forth the divine Son in human form.
Hebrews 7:26The angel declares the child will be 'holy,' which is echoed in Hebrews' description of Jesus as 'holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,' highlighting his unique, sinless nature due to his divine conception.
Philippians 2:6-7This passage speaks of Christ, though existing in the form of God, emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, which beautifully illustrates the divine 'Son of God' taking on human flesh through the Holy Spirit's power.
calvinLuke 1:34-38: "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
- And Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man? 35. And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which shall be born shall be called the Son of God. 36. And, behold, Elisabeth thy cousin, even she hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her w…
clarkeLuke 1:35: "And 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."
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee - This conception shall take place suddenly, and the Holy Spirit himself shall be the grand operator. The power, δυναμις, the miracle-working power, of the Most High shall overshadow thee, to accomplish this purpose, and to prot…
The angel uses "overshadow" to describe God's power, hinting at a protective, yet mysterious divine presence like a cloud, rather than a consuming fire. This imagery emphasizes that God's work in Mary is both powerful and gentle, shielding her while bringing forth life in a way beyond human comprehension.
Mary has just expressed her bewilderment at the angel's news that she, a virgin, will conceive a son. The angel responds by explaining that this miraculous conception won't happen through natural means, but through the direct, powerful work of the Holy Spirit, making the child uniquely holy and the Son of God. This divine intervention is emphasized by the concept of God's power "overshadowing" Mary, similar to how God's presence filled the tabernacle, signifying a sacred and mysterious indwelling.
Mary has just expressed her bewilderment at the angel's news that she, a virgin, will conceive a son. The angel responds by explaining that this miraculous conception won't happen through natural means, but through the direct, powerful work of the Holy Spirit, making the child uniquely holy and the Son of God. This divine intervention is emphasized by the concept of God's power "overshadowing" Mary, similar to how God's presence filled the tabernacle, signifying a sacred and mysterious indwelling.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 1:35 is available in the Sola app.
John the Baptist begins his ministry in the wilderness, calling people to repentance and proclaiming the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Angel Gabriel Visits Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, to announce that she will miraculously conceive and bear the Son of God.
"And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." — The angel uses "overshadow" to describe God's power, hinting at a protective, yet mysterious divine presence like a cloud, rather than a consuming fire. This imagery emphasizes that God's work in Mar…
