King James Version

Luke 1:34

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

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εἶπενeipento sayλέγω (légō)Greek uses a different stem for this verb’s past forms.verb, aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular — “to say”, a single actionG3004(denoting speech in progress), (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.This verse uses “say”.Strong’s files this form under G2036 (ἔπω, speak/say).saidδὲdebutδέconjunction — “but”G1161a weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.This verse uses “but”.ΜαριὰμmariamMaryΜαριάμnoun, nominative, singular, feminine — “Mary”, the subject formG3137Mary, Miriam, (a) the mother of Jesus, (b) of Magdala, (c) sister of Martha and Lazarus, (d) wife of Cleopas, (e) mother of John Mark, (f) a Christian woman in Rome.This verse uses “Mary”.Maryπρὸςprosuntoπρόςpreposition — “unto”G4314to, towards, with.untoτὸνtontheὁ (ho)article, accusative, singular, masculine — “the”, the object formG3588the, the definite article.ἄγγελονangelonangelἄγγελος (angelos)noun, accusative, singular, masculine — “angel”, the object formG32a messenger, generally a (supernatural) messenger from God, an angel, conveying news or behests from God to men.the angelΠῶςpōsHowπῶςadverb — “How”G4459how, in what manner, by what means.This verse uses “how”.Howἔσταιestaishallεἰμί (eimi)verb, future middle indicative, 3rd person singular — “shall”, an action still aheadG1510I am, exist.shallτοῦτοtoutothisοὗτος (houtos)demonstrative pronoun, nominative, singular, neuter — “this”, the subject formG3778this; he, she, it.This verse uses “this”.thisἐπεὶepeiseeingἐπείconjunction — “seeing”G1893of time: when, after; of cause: since, because; otherwise: else.seeingἄνδραandraa manἀνήρ (anēr)noun, accusative, singular, masculine — “a man”, the object formG435a male human being; a man, husband.This verse uses “a man”.a manοὐounoοὐadverb — “no”G3756no, not.γινώσκωginōskōto knowγινώσκωverb, present active indicative, 1st person singular — “to know”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1097I am taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; aor: I ascertained, realized.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Young’s Literal Translation

And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'

World English Bible

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

Darby Translation

But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

Douay-Rheims

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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