Luke 1:40-45 Meaning: Why Mary Greeted Elizabeth First
40and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
40and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
41And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;
42and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
44For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.
40and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42and spake out with a loud voice, and said, `Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb;
43and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?
44for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;
45and happy is she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'
40and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.
41And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with [the] Holy Spirit,
42and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed [art] thou amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.
43And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.
45And blessed [is] she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from [the] Lord.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Mary greet Elizabeth first in Luke 1:40-45? See the meaning of the leap, the Spirit's filling, and Elizabeth's blessing of faith.
Context
Mary had just received the angel Gabriel’s stunning news. She would bear the Son of God. The angel also told her that her elderly relative Elizabeth was already six months pregnant. Mary left Nazareth quickly and traveled into the hill country of Judea to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The journey was an act of faith. She wanted to see the sign God had given her. When Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, something remarkable happened. The baby John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She then spoke words of blessing that recognized Mary’s child as the Lord. This meeting is the first human recognition of Jesus before his birth. It shows how the Holy Spirit confirms God’s promises through ordinary encounters.
Key Words
Three Greek words open up this passage. The baby “leaped” (eskirtēsen, from skirtaō). This word means to skip or spring like a lamb. It is not a nervous kick but a joyful jump. John, still unborn, responded to the presence of Jesus with gladness. The Holy Spirit made him aware of his Lord. Second, Elizabeth was “filled” (eplēsthē, from plēthō) with the Holy Spirit. This is a strong word: she was completely overtaken by God’s Spirit. Her words were not her own, they were prophecy. Third, “blessed” (makaria) appears in verse 45. This is the same word Jesus uses in the Beatitudes. It means the deep happiness that comes from trusting God, not from easy circumstances. Mary is called blessed because she believed that God would keep His promise. Each word points to a truth: the Spirit reveals Jesus, and faith leads to true joy.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions treasure this meeting. Catholic and Orthodox readers see it as a powerful witness to Mary’s unique role. Elizabeth’s greeting, “Blessed are you among women,” forms part of the Hail Mary prayer, and many honor Mary as the Mother of God. Protestant traditions often emphasize Elizabeth’s Spirit-inspired prophecy and the blessing of faith. They point out that Mary is called blessed not for her own merit but for believing God’s word. Pentecostal and charismatic believers note the Holy Spirit’s active work, causing even an unborn child to respond with joy. All traditions agree: this encounter is driven by the Spirit and points to Christ’s presence before his birth.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that Elizabeth’s baby leaped simply because of a natural maternal sensation. Some think it was an ordinary movement. In fact, Elizabeth herself explains it was a leap “for joy” (v. 44), and she was filled with the Holy Spirit when it happened. The leap was not natural but supernatural, a sign from God that the unborn John recognized his Lord. The Spirit used the bodies and voices of these women to confirm that the Messiah had come.
Living This Out
This week, you will offer greetings and receive them. A simple “hello” can carry more than you know. Mary brought Jesus into Elizabeth’s house simply by arriving and speaking. You bring Christ into your conversations when you carry His peace. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes, as He did for Elizabeth, so you can recognize where God is at work. Notice the little leaps in your own heart, moments of unexpected joy that point to something true. They are reminders that God keeps His word, even when you cannot see how it all fits together.
Main takeaway: Believing God’s word brings a joy that recognizes Jesus, even before we see how His promises will unfold.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When Mary visited Elizabeth, the baby inside Elizabeth jumped for joy. That baby was John, and he was happy because he knew that Jesus was near.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, which means God helped her understand who Mary’s baby really was. She called Mary the mother of her Lord. Elizabeth also said Mary was blessed because she believed what God had promised. This shows us that when we trust God’s words, He gives us joy and helps us see Jesus more clearly.
Questions People Ask
Why did the baby leap in Elizabeth’s womb?
The baby John leaped as a joyful response to the presence of Jesus, even before birth. Elizabeth explains in verse 44 that he leaped for joy. This unusual movement was a sign from the Holy Spirit, confirming that Mary’s child was the Lord. It shows that even the unborn can be used by God to honor His Son.
What does it mean that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that God’s Spirit came upon Elizabeth in a special way, enabling her to speak prophetic words. She recognized Mary as the mother of her Lord without being told. This filling was a fulfillment of the angel’s promise that John would be filled with the Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15). It shows that the Spirit gives insight and joy.
Why is Mary called “blessed among women”?
Elizabeth calls Mary blessed because she has been chosen to bear the Messiah. This blessing is not about Mary’s own perfection but about the great honor God gave her. All generations have called her blessed, as she herself says in the Magnificat (Luke 1:48). Her blessedness is rooted in her faith and the child she carries.
What does “blessed is she who believed” mean in Luke 1:45?
Elizabeth commends Mary for believing the angel’s promise. The word “blessed” means happy or fortunate. Mary trusted God even though the message seemed impossible. This verse teaches that true happiness comes from believing God’s word, not from seeing immediate results. Faith is the foundation of blessing.
Why did Mary go to visit Elizabeth?
The angel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant, as a sign that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:36-37). Mary went to see for herself and to share in the joy. She traveled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, a journey of several days. Her visit brought confirmation of God’s promises and led to a Spirit-filled encounter.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study