King James Bible
"And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her."
Elizabeth's community learns of her miraculous pregnancy, emphasizing how God's work spreads beyond the immediate family. In ancient Jewish culture, such news would travel quickly through close-knit village networks where neighbors and extended family shared deeply in each other's lives. The pregnancy is recognized as divine mercy, not mere good fortune, acknowledging God's direct intervention in removing Elizabeth's barrenness. In first-century Judaism, childlessness was often seen as a reproach, making God's mercy particularly profound and personal. The community's joy reflects the biblical pattern of corporate celebration when God acts redemptively. Their rejoicing validates Elizabeth's experience and demonstrates how individual blessings overflow to strengthen communal faith.