King James Bible
"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."
Gabriel enters Mary's presence with a divine announcement, marking the beginning of the Annunciation. The angel's physical arrival emphasizes the personal, direct nature of God's communication at this pivotal moment in salvation history. The greeting 'Hail' (Greek: chaire) means 'rejoice,' while 'highly favoured' indicates Mary has received exceptional divine grace. This unique salutation signals that Mary has been specially chosen by God for an extraordinary purpose. This declaration assures Mary of God's immediate presence and protection. In Old Testament usage, this phrase typically preceded a difficult but divinely ordained mission, preparing Mary for the momentous task ahead. Mary is pronounced supremely blessed compared to all other women, echoing Old Testament praise for heroic women like Jael and Judith. This blessing anticipates her unique role as the mother of the Messiah.