What does Luke 1:43 Mean?

Verse Meaning

By "Lord" Elizabeth meant Jesus, not the entire Godhead. Consequently the Bible never ascribes the title "Mother of God" to Mary. She was the mother of Jesus, who was Elizabeth"s Lord, since He was God. [source][source]

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Luke used the title "Lord" 95 times out of its166 occurrences in the Synoptics. ^[1] [source]

"The use of kurios in narrative to refer to Jesus is distinctive of Luke." ^[2] [source]

This title has a double meaning. It is the word the Septuagint used to translate the Hebrew "Yahweh," and the New Testament writers used it the same way. As such, it implies deity. It also means "master" in the sense of a superior person, specifically the Messiah. This usage does not necessarily imply that the person using it believed that Jesus was God. Elizabeth apparently meant that Jesus was the Messiah at least. Luke evidently used the term "Lord" frequently because for Greek readers "Christ" or "Messiah" had little meaning. The pagan Gentiles referred to Caesar as "Lord" Caesar, meaning that he was their divine sovereign. "Lord" had the same connotation for Luke"s original readers. Jesus is the divine sovereign for Christians. [source][source]

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Elizabeth considered herself unworthy that the mother of Messiah should visit her ( 2 Samuel 24:21; cf. 2 Samuel 6:2-11). John the Baptist did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah until Jesus" baptism ( John 1:32-33). She had done nothing to deserve this honor. Her inspired words reflect the superiority of Mary"s child over her own son. [source][source]

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Context Summary

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