The birth of Jesus is one of the most important and well-known events in the Bible. It is the cornerstone of Christianity, and it has been celebrated for centuries. One of the most enduring questions about this miraculous event is how old Mary, the mother of Jesus, was when she gave birth.
Mary’s Age at Jesus’ Birth
Mary’s age at the time of Jesus’ birth is not clearly stated in the Bible. However, many scholars believe that she was between the ages of 12 and 15 when she gave birth to Jesus.
The New Testament does not provide any concrete evidence as to Mary’s exact age. However, there is some evidence in the Bible that suggests Mary was a young woman when she became pregnant with Jesus.
In Luke 1:36, Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, is described as being "in her old age." This implies that Mary was younger than Elizabeth and, therefore, likely in her teens when she became pregnant.
Additionally, in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph is described as a "just man," meaning he would have followed the Jewish law of the time. This law stated that a man could not marry a woman who was younger than 12, so if Mary was younger than 12 when she became pregnant, it is likely that Joseph would not have married her.
The Bible does not provide a clear answer as to Mary’s age when Jesus was born, but the evidence suggests she was likely between the ages of 12 and 15.
Examining the Biblical Evidence
The Bible does not provide an exact age for Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, but there are some clues that can help scholars approximate her age.
The first clue comes from the Gospel of Luke. In this passage, Mary’s cousin Elizabeth is described as being in her old age, which implies that Mary was likely younger than her. This suggests that Mary was likely a teenager when she became pregnant with Jesus.
The second clue comes from the Gospel of Matthew. In this passage, Joseph is described as a "just man," meaning he would have followed the Jewish law of the time. This law stated that a man could not marry a woman who was younger than 12, so if Mary was younger than 12 when she became pregnant, it is likely that Joseph would not have married her.
Finally, the Bible does not provide any indication of how long Mary and Joseph had been married before Jesus was born. This lack of information makes it difficult to determine Mary’s exact
