What Does Luke 1:35 Mean in the King James?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:35 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The verse names the Spirit as breath and pictures the Highest’s power as a covering, so divine action enters this story through embodied birth.

THE MEANING

Here, divine action comes upon Mary as the Set-Apart Breath, while the Highest’s power covers her. The child born of her is called the Son of God. The verse holds holy origin within embodied birth and leaves the mystery intact.

THE ROOT

πνεῦμα

pneuma

GROWS FROM

πνέω

pneō

to breathe or blow

“Ghost” in this verse is pneuma. ⁨πνεῦμα⁩ belongs to the same word family as ⁨πνέω⁩, “to breathe or blow,” and ⁨πνοή⁩, “breath.” The Set-Apart Breath comes upon Mary, keeping the language of divine presence joined to breath and embodied life.

ALSO GROWS

pneō: to breathe, blow

πνέω

This verb reveals the breath carried within the word translated “Ghost.”

pnoē: breath, a blowing

πνοή

This related noun makes the breath meaning of the word family explicit.

pneuma: breath, wind, spirit

πνεῦμα

This is the word used in the verse; its range keeps breath and divine presence together.

ἐπισκιάσει

episkia-sei

GROWS FROM

σκιά

skia

shadow or shade

The verb translated “overshadow” contains ⁨σκιά⁩, “shadow,” within its form: the Highest’s power is pictured as a covering resting over Mary. The same verb appears when a bright cloud covers the disciples at Jesus’ transfiguration, joining the hidden origin of the Son with his later disclosure.

ALSO GROWS

skia: shadow, shade

σκιά

The noun inside the verb makes the covering image visible in the verse.

episkiazō: to overshadow, cover with a shadow

ἐπισκιάζω

This is the verb’s dictionary form and the same word used for the cloud covering the disciples in Matthew 17:5.

kataskiazō: to overshadow, cast a shadow over

κατασκιάζω

This related compound describes the cherubim shadowing the mercy seat in Hebrews 9:5, another image of sacred covering.

THE PATTERN

Scripture portrays divine presence as a covering that marks a person or dwelling as a site of divine action.

And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:35 · KJVThe cloud abides over the tent as the LORD’s glory fills it, presenting a dwelling covered by divine presence.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Matthew 17:5 · KJVA bright cloud overshadows the disciples as a voice identifies the Son, echoing Luke’s image of the Son’s origin under a divine covering.

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

Acts 5:15 · KJVThe same shadowing image gathers around the sick as they are brought within reach of a hoped-for healing.

THE THREAD

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Matthew 17:5 · KJV

Matthew uses the same Greek verb for “overshadow” as Luke does here. Luke places the covering over Mary as the Son is born; Matthew places it over the disciples as the Son is revealed, linking hidden origin with recognition.

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