1:45a–b

Blessed is she who has believed: The phrase she who has believed refers specifically to Mary. Elizabeth was still speaking to her. In some languages it may be more natural to use a form such as “you.” For example:

Blessed are you who have believed

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Blessed is different from the one that is translated as Blessed in 1:42b and 1:42c. It describes a person who is in a good situation. In the Bible, the good situation results from God showing favor/kindness to the person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Joyful/desirable is your situation because you have believed
-or-
How good/happy it is for you who have believed
-or-
You are favored/fortunate for believing

This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings such as happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health.

See bless, Meaning 3, in the Glossary.

she who has believed: The phrase who has believed identifies the one who is blessed. However, it also implies the reason why Mary was blessed. For example:

because you believed (Contemporary English Version)

believed: In this context the word believed refers to having confidence in what the Lord said. Mary knew that the Lord would do what he had told her.

See believe, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

1:45b

that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled: This clause refers to what Mary believed. She believed that what the Lord had told her would be done. The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be fulfilled are literally “there will be a fulfillment.” It means here that what the Lord said to Mary would be fulfilled. Another way to say this is:

that what the Lord said to you would really happen (New Century Version)
-or-
that the Lord would fulfill/do what he promised you

The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Lord’s word to her is literally “the things spoken to her from the Lord.” This phrase refers to what God told Mary through the angel Gabriel (1:26–37). Some English versions describe this as a promise or a message. Others use a more general word such as “said.” Some other ways to translate this are:

that the Lord would keep his promise to you (God’s Word)
-or-
that the Lord would do what he said (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that the Lord’s promise to her would be fulfilled (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 1:45a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of some information in this verse. For example:

45aYou have believed 45bthat what the Lord said to you would happen. 45aSo how good it is for you!

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