The term occurs once in the Greek New Testament, at Luke 2:5, describing Mary as “expecting a child”. Though unique in form, the idea it carries—being pregnant—threads through Scripture’s testimony to God’s creative work in the womb and His sovereign direction of redemptive history.

Context in Luke 2:5

Caesar Augustus’s decree drew Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem so “that the word spoken through the prophet” might be fulfilled (Micah 5:2). Luke notes Mary was pledged to Joseph and already pregnant, emphasizing:
• the genuine humanity of Jesus, whose life began in the womb like every other child (Luke 1:35; Hebrews 2:14)
• the divine orchestration that placed the incarnate Son exactly where prophecy required (Matthew 2:5–6)
• the honor accorded to motherhood, even under humble and difficult circumstances (Luke 1:48)

Old Testament Foundations

Scripture repeatedly portrays the womb as the sphere of God’s intimate craftsmanship:
• Psalm 139:13–16, “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
• Job 31:15, “Did not He who made me in the womb also make them?”
• Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart.”

Such passages teach that prenatal life already bears God’s image, undergirding later New Testament affirmations.

New Testament Expansion

Luke’s infancy narratives highlight two simultaneous pregnancies—Elizabeth with John and Mary with Jesus. John’s leaping in the womb (Luke 1:41) and Mary’s being “with child” (Luke 2:5) both stress personhood prior to birth and the Spirit’s activity before physical delivery (Luke 1:15, 35).

Christological Implications

The Incarnation began at conception. The Word became flesh not merely at birth (John 1:14) but at the Spirit’s overshadowing of Mary (Luke 1:35). Therefore:
• Jesus’ perfect humanity encompasses every developmental stage.
• The unborn Christ fulfilled promise from the moment of conception, validating all prenatal life.
• Salvation history hinges on a pregnancy—showing God often works through what appears ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary (Galatians 4:4).

Pastoral and Ethical Applications

1. Sanctity of Life: Biblical testimony grounds the church’s defense of unborn life. Believers are called to protect, cherish, and advocate for the most vulnerable (Proverbs 24:11–12).
2. Value of Motherhood: Mary’s example honors expectant mothers and assures God’s presence in seasons of uncertainty or social upheaval.
3. Encouragement in Difficult Journeys: The census forced Mary to travel while pregnant, yet God’s purpose prevailed. Modern believers may trust divine providence amid hardship.

Related Biblical Themes

• Promise Births: Isaac (Genesis 17:19), Samson (Judges 13:3–5), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20) all foreshadow the climactic birth of Christ.
• Conception by Divine Intervention: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah—each demonstrates God’s power over barrenness, culminating in the virgin conception.
• Womb Imagery for Covenant Hope: Isaiah 49:15 links God’s faithfulness to a nursing mother’s bond, underscoring steadfast love rooted in prenatal care.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1471 highlights a single but profound reality: the unborn child. Luke employs it to affirm that the Savior’s incarnation commenced in Mary’s womb, integrating prenatal life into the fabric of redemption. The biblical witness—from the patriarchs to the prophets, from the Psalms to the Gospels—presents pregnancy as sacred ground where God forms life, fulfills promises, and advances His kingdom purposes.