The idea
The verb Gabriel uses (episkiazō) is the same word the Greek Old Testament uses when the glory-cloud overshadowed the tabernacle and filled it with God's presence. Mary is overshadowed as the sanctuary was: she becomes the dwelling place of God.
Key verses
- Luke 1:35 — 'the power of the Most High will overshadow you.'
- Exodus 40:34 — the glory-cloud 'overshadows' the tabernacle (the verb is in v. 35, Exodus 40:35 in the Septuagint).
- 2 Maccabees 2:4 — the Jewish expectation that the returning Ark would be known by 'the glory of the Lord and the cloud' (2:8).
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| The cloud overshadows the tabernacle | → | The Spirit overshadows Mary |
One Greek verb, 'overshadow' (episkiazo), links the annunciation to the glory-cloud that filled the tabernacle. Pitre's point: as God's presence once settled on the sanctuary, it now settles in Mary, making her the living tabernacle.
Sources
- Septuagint — Exodus 40:35 LXX, episkiazō (p 54) · read