1:36 “And look, 1 your relative 2 Elizabeth has also become pregnant with 3 a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 4
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 11 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.
1 tn Grk “behold.”
2 tn Some translations render the word συγγενίς (sungeni") as “cousin” (so Phillips) but the term is not necessarily this specific.
3 tn Or “has conceived.”
4 tn Grk “and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.” Yet another note on Elizabeth’s loss of reproach also becomes a sign of the truth of the angel’s declaration.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
6 tn Grk “behold.”
7 tn Traditionally, “handmaid”; Grk “slave woman.” Though δούλη (doulh) is normally translated “woman servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free woman serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times… in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v. δοῦλος). The most accurate translation is “bondservant,” sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος (doulos), in that it often indicates one who sells himself or herself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
8 tn Grk “let this be to me.”
9 sn The remark according to your word is a sign of Mary’s total submission to God’s will, a response that makes her exemplary.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
9 tn Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”
13 tn Grk “for she loved much.” The connection between this statement and the preceding probably involves an ellipsis, to the effect that the ὅτι clause gives the evidence of forgiveness, not the ground. For similar examples of an “evidentiary” ὅτι, cf. Luke 1:22; 6:21; 13:2. See discussion in D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:703-5. Further evidence that this is the case here is the final statement: “the one who is forgiven little loves little” means that the one who is forgiven little is thus not able to love much. The REB renders this verse: “her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little love is shown.”
17 sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.
18 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
19 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.