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NASB | Luke 1:56 ¶ And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 1:56 ¶ And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home. |
Bible Question: Is there anything in the Greek of Luke 1 to hint/indicate that Mary stayed with Elizabeth after John was born? The stated timeline is that Mary arrived at Elizabeth's house in Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy and stayed there "about" three months. I understand that the Greek "hosei" implies a leeway afterwards per Dean Alford, but I'm no scholar. The text does not say that she was there for the birth of John, but staying there from Elizabeth's sixth to ninth months (as the text says; to help perhaps as I might infer) and leaving right before the birth (as 1.56 and then 1.57 in English imply) does not make sense. |
Bible Answer: Rick Very interesting discussion! May it not be that Mary, remembering her status as betrothed to Joseph, was seeking to avoid all the publicity that would undoubtedly ensue when news broke about the birth of John? She herself would have been 3 months pregnant at that time, and no reason could be given which would be acceptable to those who would enquire! Noting Marys character and the fact that it would appear that she had not yet revealed her state to Joseph - would it not be consistent with what is revealed of her to assume that he would be the first (apart from Elizabeth) to know of her situation? Thus, as Elizabeth hid herself, so did Mary. And when the time came for John to be born, Mary went back home and was again in contact with Joseph, at which time "she was found with child of the Holy Ghost". Just a different thought on the passage. In Him David |