The Meaning of Luke 1:39 Explained

Luke 1:39

KJV: And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

YLT: And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,

Darby: And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

ASV: And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  Mary  arose  in  those  days,  and went  into  the hill country  with  haste,  into  a city  of Juda; 

What does Luke 1:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 1:39-56 - The Song Of The Virgin Mother
Zacharias lived in a Levitical city in the hill country of Judah. The narrative evidently implies that there had been no previous communication between the two women of what had happened. In their greeting both were led and taught of the Spirit.
Evidently Mary was living in close familiarity with the Scriptures. Often she had been deeply moved by their radiant promises, and had pleaded that God would at last help His people and send the Savior. Now that this blessing had come to her, she voiced her thanks, not only under the express inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but in the familiar expressions of Scripture. No others would have sufficed. Compare Hannah's song of praise, under similar circumstances, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. This song is called the Magnificat, that being the first word in the Latin version. Wonder and praise, humility and exultation, adoration and congratulation-these colors chase one another in the heart of this jewel. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 1

1  The preface of Luke to his whole gospel
5  The conception of John the Baptist;
26  and of Jesus
39  The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus
57  The nativity and circumcision of John
67  The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus,
76  and of John

Greek Commentary for Luke 1:39

Arose [αναστασα]
Luke is very fond of this word, sixty times against twenty-two in the rest of the N.T. [source]
Into the hill country [εις την ορινην]
Luke uses this adjective twice in this context (here and Luke 1:65) instead of το ορος — to oros the mountains. It is an old word and is in the lxx, but nowhere else in the N.T. The name of the city where Zacharias lived is not given unless Judah here means Juttah (Joshua 15:55). Hebron was the chief city of this part of Judea. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 1:39

Acts 16:25 Were praying and singing [προσευχομενοι υμνουν]
Present middle participle and imperfect active indicative: Praying they were singing (simultaneously, blending together petition and praise). υμνεω — Humneō is an old verb from υμνος — humnos (cf. Isaiah 12:4; Daniel 3:23). Paul and Silas probably used portions of the Psalms (cf. Luke 1:39., Luke 1:67.; Luke 2:28) with occasional original outbursts of praise. Were listening to them (επηκροωντο αυτων — epēkroōnto autōn). Imperfect middle of επακροαομαι — epakroaomai Rare verb to listen with pleasure as to a recitation or music (Page). It was a new experience for the prisoners and wondrously attractive entertainment to them. [source]
Romans 12:8 With diligence [ἐν σπουδῇ]
See on Judges 1:3. In Mark 6:25; Luke 1:39, it is rendered haste. In 2 Corinthians 7:11, carefulness (Rev., earnest care ). In 2 Corinthians 7:12, care (Rev., earnest care ). In 2 Corinthians 8:8, forwardness (Rev., earnestness ). In 2 Corinthians 8:16, earnest care. [source]
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavoring [σπουδάζοντες]
Not strong enough. Originally the verb means to make haste. So the kindred noun σπουδή haste Mark 6:25; Luke 1:39. Hence diligence. Rev., here, giving diligence. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 1:39 mean?

Having risen up then Mary in the days this she went into the hill country with haste to a town of Judah
Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα

Ἀναστᾶσα  Having  risen  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀναπηδάω 
Sense: to cause to rise up, raise up.
Μαριὰμ  Mary 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: Μαρία 
Sense: Mary the mother of Jesus.
ἡμέραις  days 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ταύταις  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐπορεύθη  she  went 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ὀρεινὴν  hill  country 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὀρεινός  
Sense: mountainous, hilly.
σπουδῆς  haste 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: σπουδή  
Sense: haste, with haste.
πόλιν  a  town 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
Ἰούδα  of  Judah 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰουδά  
Sense: the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 1:39?

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