King James Bible
"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
Elizabeth expresses profound humility and wonder at receiving this visit, recognizing herself as unworthy of such an honor. Her rhetorical question echoes Old Testament language of awe before divine favor, particularly David's response when the ark came to Jerusalem. Elizabeth identifies Mary as bearing her "Lord"—a remarkable theological insight given by the Holy Spirit, acknowledging the divine nature of Mary's unborn child. This represents one of the earliest confessions of Jesus' lordship, spoken even before his birth. The act of Mary's arrival becomes a moment of divine visitation, paralleling how the ark of the covenant brought God's presence to places. Elizabeth recognizes that through Mary's visit, she is encountering the presence of the Messiah himself.