King James Bible
"And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,"
Following Zechariah's temple encounter with the angel Gabriel, the elderly Elisabeth miraculously becomes pregnant, fulfilling the angel's promise. This conception parallels other biblical accounts of barren women bearing divinely appointed children, emphasizing God's intervention in preparing John the Baptist's arrival. Elisabeth withdraws from public life during early pregnancy, possibly due to social customs around uncertain pregnancies at her advanced age or to privately process this miraculous event. Her seclusion creates a period of hiddenness before the public revelation of God's work. This word introduces Elisabeth's personal reflection that follows in verse 25, indicating her withdrawal was accompanied by contemplation and declaration about God's gracious action in her life.