SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:36
Y he aquí, Elisabet tu parienta, tambin ella ha concebido hijo en su vejez; y ste es el sexto mes a ella que era llamada la estril;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 1:36
Verse 36. Thy cousin Elisabeth] Thy kinswoman, suggenhv. As Elisabeth was of the tribe of Levi, ver. 5, and Mary of the tribe of Judah, they could not be relatives but by the mother's side. She hath also conceived] And this is wrought by the same power and energy through which thou shalt conceive. Thus God has given thee a proof and pledge, in what he has done for Elisabeth, of what he will do for thyself; therefore, have faith in God.
Who was called barren.] It is probable that Elisabeth got this appellative by way of reproach; or to distinguish her from some other Elisabeth also well known, who had been blessed with children. Perhaps this is the reproach which Elisabeth speaks of, ver. 25, her common name among men, among the people who knew her, being Elisabeth the barren.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 36. And behold thy cousin Elisabeth , etc.] For though Elisabeth was of the daughters of Aaron, or of the tribe of Levi by her father's side, yet might be of the tribe of Judah by her mother's side, and so akin to Mary.
The Persic version calls her aunt by the mother's side: intermarriages between the two tribes of Levi and Judah were frequent; nor were they at all contrary to the intention of that law, that forbid the tribes to intermarry, which was to preserve the inheritance in each tribe, since the tribe of Levi had none at all. Though she might be called her cousin in a more general sense; it being usual with the Jews to call all of their own nation their kinsmen and kinswomen, according to the flesh: but the former sense seems more agreeable; and so Mary is directed to her own family, and to her own relations, and known friends, for a sign, by which her faith might be confirmed, in what the angel had said unto her; for if she found the one to be true, she might conclude the other was also; which is as follows: she hath also conceived a son in her old age : though Mary asked no sign, yet one is given her, whereby she might know the truth of what was spoken: for if it should appear that Elisabeth had received strength to conceive, as was declared by the angel; and that a son, too, which he could not have known without a divine revelation; and that in her old age, which, was extraordinary and supernatural, she might assure herself, that the message brought to her was from God; and that she likewise, though a virgin, might conceive, and bear a son: the angel adds, as a further testimony of the truth of things; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren . Elisabeth, was generally known to be barren, and was, by way of reproach, usually called so, but was now six months gone with child; so that it was a plain case, and out of question; the signs of her pregnancy were very apparent.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 26-38 - We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be bor miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honou Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation an appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had foun favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name sh should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature an perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear Jesus, a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty, therefor we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs ove us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought, I the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so, we should trample of all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, 1Ti 3:16. Christ's human natur must be produced so, as it was fit that should be which was to be take into union with the Divine nature. And we must, as Mary here, guide ou desires by the word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises, let u turn them into prayers, Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S ελισαβετ 1665 N-PRI η 3588 T-NSF συγγενης 4773 A-NSF σου 4675 P-2GS και 2532 CONJ αυτη 846 P-NSF συνειληφυια 4815 5761 V-RAP-NSF υιον 5207 N-ASM εν 1722 PREP γηρα 1094 N-DSN αυτης 846 P-GSF και 2532 CONJ ουτος 3778 D-NSM μην 3376 PRT εκτος 1623 A-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S αυτη 846 P-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF καλουμενη 2564 5746 V-PPP-DSF στειρα 4723 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
36. Cousin (suggenhv). The nature of the relationship, however, is unknown. The word is a general term, meaning of the same family. The best texts substitute for it a feminine form, suggeniv, which is condemned by the grammarians as unclassical, but rightly rendered by Rev., kinswoman. Wyc., cosyness, i. e., cousiness.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:36 {Kinswoman} (suggenis). Not necessarily cousin, but simply relative.
