King James Bible
"And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren."
The angel Gabriel reveals to Mary that her elderly relative Elisabeth is miraculously pregnant, demonstrating God's power over natural limitations. This parallel pregnancy serves as both encouragement and confirmation to Mary that nothing is impossible with God. The specific timing detail establishes Elisabeth's pregnancy as an advanced, undeniable reality. This chronological marker will later explain why Mary hastily travels to visit Elisabeth, arriving when John leaps in the womb. Elisabeth's previous condition of barrenness, a source of social shame in Jewish culture, highlights the miraculous nature of her pregnancy. This transformation from reproach to blessing echoes Old Testament accounts like Sarah and Hannah, establishing a pattern of God's intervention in salvation history.