Luke 1:29

But ¹  she was greatly troubled ²  by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. ³ 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that.

But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

But when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

But ¹  she was greatly troubled ²  by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. ³ 

¹ tc Most mss (A C Θ 0130 ˹³ Ï lat sy) have ἰδοῦσα (idousa, “when [she] saw [the angel]”) here as well, making Mary’s concern the appearance of the angel. This construction is harder than the shorter reading since it adds a transitive verb without an explicit object. However, the shorter reading has significant support (א B D L W Ψ Ë¹ 565 579 1241 sa) and on balance should probably be considered authentic.

² sn On the phrase greatly troubled see 1:12. Mary’s reaction was like Zechariah’s response.

³ tn Grk “to wonder what kind of greeting this might be.” Luke often uses the optative this way to reveal a figure’s thinking (3:15; 8:9; 18:36; 22:23).