In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Mary's "haste" wasn't just about speed; it reveals her eager heart wanting to connect with Elisabeth, likely to confirm the angel's incredible news for herself and to witness God's grace in her cousin's life too. This journey isn't just a physical movement, but a leap of faith driven by a deep desire to share in and understand the miraculous works of God.
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Immediately after the angel Gabriel’s stunning announcement that she would conceive Jesus, Mary travels quickly to visit her relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. This journey takes her about seventy miles from Nazareth to a town in the hill country of Judea, likely Hebron, where Elizabeth lives with her husband Zechariah. The urgency of Mary's trip highlights her deep faith and desire to share in the miraculous news with her kinswoman.
Why did Mary rush off after hearing the angel's news? It wasn't just a casual visit; it was faith on the move.
Mary's journey to Elizabeth wasn't a delay tactic or a simple check-up. The text says she went 'with haste.' This wasn't just physical speed, but a reflection of her inner excitement and the urgency of what God had revealed.
Faith Demands Action
When God speaks, faith doesn't sit still. Mary, recently told she would bear the Son of God, immediately set out. This shows that true faith is active and responsive. She was likely eager to share this incredible news and perhaps to confirm what she'd heard through Elizabeth's own miraculous pregnancy.
More Than Just a Visit
Her trip to the 'hill country' – a significant distance, likely over 70 miles – wasn't trivial. It was an act of deep personal conviction and a desire to connect with someone else experiencing God's extraordinary work. This journey became the setting for one of the most profound encounters in Scripture.
The exact destination remains a mystery, but its location in 'a city of Judah' in the hill country holds theological weight.
Luke is specific about the region – the 'hill country' of Judea – but intentionally vague about the city itself. Most scholars point to Hebron, a Levitical city and a place of significant history within the tribe of Judah. However, the exact location isn't the main point.
Prophetic Geography
Ask a follow-up
What's striking is that this journey places Mary in the territory of Judah. This is no accident. The Messiah, Jesus, was prophesied to come from the line of Judah. While Mary was from Nazareth in Galilee, her journey to this region, where Elizabeth and Zechariah lived, symbolically connects her to the fulfillment of prophecy.
A Prelude to Bethlehem
Some commentators suggest the conception of Jesus may have occurred during this visit. Whether that's the case or not, the location in Judah serves as a significant backdrop. It's a reminder that Jesus' birth, ministry, and eventual reign are all deeply rooted in the promises made to the people of Judah.
Mary's immediate journey to Elizabeth highlights her faith and the deep, personal connection between these two miraculous pregnancies, underscoring the divine plan unfolding in Judea.
c. 6 BC
The Annunciation to Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary, a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, announcing she will conceive the Son of God by the Holy Spirit.
c. 6 BC
Gabriel's Announcement to Zechariah
The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, a priest, announcing his wife Elizabeth will bear a son (John the Baptist), the forerunner of Jesus.
c. 6 BC— this verse
Mary's Journey to Judah
Mary, newly informed of her miraculous conception, travels with haste to the hill country of Judah to visit her relative Elizabeth.
c. 6 BC
The Visitation and Magnificat
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Mary's divine calling and proclaims her blessed, prompting Mary's joyful song of praise, the Magnificat.
c. 5 BC
Birth of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gives birth to John, whose miraculous conception and birth are significant precursors to the birth of Jesus.
c. 5 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecies and marking the central event of Christian faith.
This passage shows a profound declaration of loyalty and commitment, similar to Mary's 'yes' to God, highlighting a similar spirit of devotion in the face of significant life changes.
1 Samuel 1:19This verse describes a journey undertaken in response to a divine promise or a pressing personal situation, mirroring Mary's motivated travel to visit her cousin.
Matthew 1:18-20This parallel account of Jesus' conception from Matthew emphasizes the divine nature of the events and the angel's role, providing context for Mary's immediate actions and the supernatural circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.
Luke 1:41-45This immediate continuation of the narrative shows the profound spiritual impact of Mary's arrival, with Elizabeth's prophetic greeting and the baby John's leaping in the womb, underscoring the significance of Mary's visit and the divine work at play.
barnesLuke 1:39: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;"
And Mary arose - The word "arose" here is equivalent to "setting out," or starting on a journey. The hill country - The region in the vicinity of Jerusalem, commonly called the hill country of Judea. City of Juda - What city is meant is not known. Some have supposed it to be Jerusalem, others Hebron; but all is conjecture. It was probably a Levitical city, and the residence of Zechariah wh…
bensonLuke 1:39: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;"
Luke 1:39-45 . Mary arose in those days — That is, soon after the time that she had received the extraordinary message mentioned above; and went into the hill-country — Where Elisabeth dwelt, although it was at least seventy miles distant from Nazareth. It is probable she was eager to know the certainty of her cousin’s pregnancy, which the angel had mentioned, to show her the possibility o…
Mary's "haste" wasn't just about speed; it reveals her eager heart wanting to connect with Elisabeth, likely to confirm the angel's incredible news for herself and to witness God's grace in her cousin's life too. This journey isn't just a physical movement, but a leap of faith driven by a deep desire to share in and understand the miraculous works of God.
Immediately after the angel Gabriel’s stunning announcement that she would conceive Jesus, Mary travels quickly to visit her relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. This journey takes her about seventy miles from Nazareth to a town in the hill country of Judea, likely Hebron, where Elizabeth lives with her husband Zechariah. The urgency of Mary's trip highlights her deep faith and desire to share in the miraculous news with her kinswoman.
Immediately after the angel Gabriel’s stunning announcement that she would conceive Jesus, Mary travels quickly to visit her relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. This journey takes her about seventy miles from Nazareth to a town in the hill country of Judea, likely Hebron, where Elizabeth lives with her husband Zechariah. The urgency of Mary's trip highlights her deep faith and desire to share in the miraculous news with her kinswoman.
"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah," — Mary's "haste" wasn't just about speed; it reveals her eager heart wanting to connect with Elisabeth, likely to confirm the angel's incredible news for herself and to witness God's grace in her cousi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026