Relationship between Elizabeth and Mary in Luke 1
The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary in Luke 1 is primarily characterized by their shared experience of miraculous pregnancies and their roles in the unfolding divine plan for the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, was the wife of Zechariah and was considered righteous before God [4]. Mary, of the lineage of David, was connected to Elizabeth by marriage [5, 6]. While the King James Version identifies Elizabeth as Mary's cousin, the Greek term used is more general, indicating a relative [7].
Mary traveled to Elizabeth's home in Judea after the angel Gabriel announced her own miraculous conception [3, 9]. Upon Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's baby, John, leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [2, 10]. This event is understood as John, even in utero, announcing the coming of the Messiah [10]. Elizabeth then blessed Mary, recognizing her as "the mother of my Lord" and commending her faith [12].
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for approximately three months [1]. This period likely encompassed the time leading up to Elizabeth's delivery, though some interpretations suggest Mary departed before the birth to avoid the crowds [11]. During this visit, Mary offered her song of praise, known as the Magnificat, which echoes Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and emphasizes God's care for the oppressed [8].
The interaction between these two women highlights several theological themes. It demonstrates the continuity of God's work, as the Spirit of prophecy, which had been less evident, reappeared in Elizabeth [10]. The encounter also serves to confirm the divine nature of both pregnancies, with Elizabeth's Spirit-filled recognition of Mary's unique role [2, 10]. The visit is seen by some as Mary, though younger and with a conception of greater dignity, taking the initiative to visit her older relative [9]. The relationship underscores the interconnectedness of the two births, with John preparing the way for Jesus.
Sources
- Luke “Luke 1:56 (BSB) — Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”
- Luke “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. -- Luke 1:41”
- Luke “Luke 1:40 (BSB) — where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elisabeth — God her oath, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). She was a descendant of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharias (q.v.) "were both righteous before God" (Luke 1:5, 13). Mary's visit to Elisabeth is described in 1:39-63.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mary The Virgin — the mother of our Lord. There is no person perhaps in sacred or profane history around whom so many legends have been grouped a the Virgin Mary; and there are few whose authentic history is more concise. She was, like Joseph, of the tribe of Judah and of the lineage of David. (Psalms 132:11; Luke 1:32; Romans 1:3) She had a sister, named, like herself, (John 19:25) and she was connected by marriage, (Luke 1:36) with Elizabeth, who was of the tribe of Levi and of the lineage of Aaron. This is all that we know of her antecedents. She was betrothed to J”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mary — Hebrew Miriam. (1.) The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the "Virgin Mary," though never so designated in Scripture (Matt. 2:11; Acts 1:14). Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Ps. 132:11; Luke 1:32). She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:36). While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised M”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:36: 1:36 your relative Elizabeth: The King James Version identifies Elizabeth as Mary’s cousin, but the Greek term is more general.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:46: 1:46-55 Mary’s song is the first of three songs of praise in the birth narrative. It is called the Magnificat (“magnifies”), from the first word in the Latin translation. The song has many parallels to Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam 2:1-10. The fact that God cares for the oppressed and reverses their fortunes is a common theme throughout Luke’s Gospel. The coming of God’s Kingdom brings salvation to rejected and outcast people.”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 1:39: We have here an interview between the two happy mothers, Elisabeth and Mary: the angel, by intimating to Mary the favour bestowed on her cousin Elisabeth (Luk 1:36), gave occasion for it; and sometimes it may prove a better piece of service that we think to bring good people together, to compare notes. Here is, I. The visit which Mary made to Elisabeth. Mary was the younger, and younger with child; and therefore, if they must come together, it was fittest that Mary should take the journey, not insisting on the preference which the greater dignity of her conception g”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:41: 1:41 Elizabeth’s child leaped within her: See 1:15. John was already announcing the Messiah’s coming. • Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: In the Old Testament, being filled with the Spirit was often associated with a prophetic gift. The Spirit of prophecy was again appearing in Israel (see 1:67; 2:25, 27).”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 1:57: Now Elisabeth's full time came,.... The nine months, which is the full time of a woman's going with child, were now complete; for in the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy, or when she had been gone six months with child, the angel acquainted Mary with it, and she had stayed about three months with her; but now had left her, to shun the company which would be at the delivery of her; though some think, she stayed till that time was over, which is not so probable; and so her reckoning being out, and the time come, that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a ”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 1:45: An additional benediction on the Virgin for her implicit faith, in tacit and delicate contrast with her own husband. for--rather, as in the Margin, "that."”