Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 1:34

"And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" — Luke 1:34 (ASV)

Unlike Zechariah, Mary does not ask for a confirmatory sign (cf. comment on v.18) but only for light on how God will accomplish this wonder. Her question does not relate to the remarkable person and work of her promised Son but arises from the fact that she has not had sexual relations with a man.

Because she was betrothed, we may assume that Mary fully expected to have normal marital relations later. It is difficult, therefore, to know why she saw a problem in Gabriel’s prediction. Luke’s condensed account seems to suggest that Mary assumed an immediate fulfillment before marriage (perhaps related to Isa 7:14).