Mary Visits Elizabeth: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 1:39-56

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 1:39-56 that may work better for native English speakers.

Copyright Notice: All lessons and printables on this website are protected by copyright. You are welcome to download and print them for free for personal use, small groups, or Bible classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not sell these materials or copy this content to other websites.

Luke 1:39-56 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 1:39-56 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you think of a time when you were very happy for a friend or family member? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a special visit between two women, Mary and Elizabeth. Both women were given good news by God. We will see how they thanked God for his kindness and mercy.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
blessed: (adjective) Having the favor and help of God.
hill country: (phrase) An area of land that has many hills and is not flat.
humble: (adjective) Not thinking you are more important than others.
lowly: (adjective) Humble or not having a high rank.
mercy: (noun) Kindness and forgiveness shown to someone who deserves punishment.
Powerful One: (phrase) A special name for God that shows he has all the power in the world.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
unborn baby: (phrase) A baby that is still growing inside its mother.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
ancestor: (noun) A person in your family who lived a long time ago.
blessed: (adjective) Having the favor and help of God.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
end of time: (phrase) The very last day of the world.
forever: (adverb) For all time without an end.
hill country: (phrase) An area of land that has many hills and is not flat.
humble: (adjective) Not thinking you are more important than others.
hungry: (adjective) Needing or wanting food.
joy: (noun) A feeling of very great happiness.
lowly: (adjective) Humble or not having a high rank.
mercy: (noun) Kindness and forgiveness shown to someone who deserves punishment.
Powerful One: (phrase) A special name for God that shows he has all the power in the world.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
promise: (noun) A word that you will do what you said.
proud: (adjective) Feeling very pleased with yourself.
reach out: (phrase) To stretch out a part of the body.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
unborn baby: (phrase) A baby that is still growing inside its mother.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
always: (adverb) Every time or at all times.
ancestor: (noun) A person in your family who lived a long time ago.
arm: (noun) The part of the body from the shoulder to the hand.
away: (adverb) At a distance from a place.
believe: (verb) To think that something is true.
blessed: (adjective) Having the favor and help of God.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
brought: (verb) To have taken someone or something to a place.
care: (verb) To feel that something is important.
chose: (verb) To have picked someone or something from a group.
down: (adverb) Toward a lower place.
Elizabeth: (noun) The mother of John the Baptizer.
end of time: (phrase) The very last day of the world.
fill: (verb) To put as much as possible into something.
forever: (adverb) For all time without an end.
forget: (verb) To not remember something.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
greet: (verb) To say hello to someone in a kind way.
greeting: (noun) The first words you say when you see someone.
happen: (verb) To take place.
heard: (verb) To have received sound with your ears.
heart: (noun) The part of a person where they feel and think.
help: (verb) To do something useful for someone.
hill country: (phrase) An area of land that has many hills and is not flat.
holy: (adjective) Being pure and set apart for God.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
humble: (adjective) Not thinking you are more important than others.
hungry: (adjective) Needing or wanting food.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
inside: (preposition) In the inner part of something like a house.
Israel: (noun) The land and the people that God chose for himself.
joy: (noun) A feeling of very great happiness.
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
jump: (verb) To push yourself up into the air using your legs.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
loud: (adjective) Making a lot of noise.
lowly: (adjective) Humble or not having a high rank.
Mary: (noun) The mother of Jesus.
mercy: (noun) Kindness and forgiveness shown to someone who deserves punishment.
more: (adjective) A larger amount of something.
much: (adjective) A large amount of something.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
Powerful One: (phrase) A special name for God that shows he has all the power in the world.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
promise: (noun) A word that you will do what you said.
proud: (adjective) Feeling very pleased with yourself.
quickly: (adverb) In a fast way.
raise: (verb) To lift something up.
reach out: (phrase) To stretch out a part of the body.
remember: (verb) To keep something in your mind.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
rule: (verb) To have power over a country or people.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
scatter: (verb) To throw things in different directions.
sent: (verb) To have caused someone to go to a place.
servant: (noun) A person who works for another person.
serve: (verb) To help or work for someone.
show: (verb) To let someone see something.
shown: (verb) To have let someone see something.
stay: (verb) To not leave a place.
than: (conjunction) A word used to compare two things.
throne: (noun) A special chair where a king sits.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.
unborn baby: (phrase) A baby that is still growing inside its mother.
until: (preposition) Up to a certain time.
visit: (verb) To go to see a person or a place.
voice: (noun) The sound you make when you speak or sing.
went: (verb) To have moved to another place.
worship: (verb) To show great love and honor to God.
would: (verb) A helping verb used to talk about something that might happen.
Zechariah: (noun) The name of a priest who was the father of John the Baptizer.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells us about a visit between Mary and her relative Elizabeth. Both women had received news from God. Mary was going to have a baby named Jesus. Elizabeth was going to have a baby named John. Mary traveled quickly to a town in the hill country. Hill country is an area with many hills and is not flat. When Mary said hello, the unborn baby inside Elizabeth moved with joy. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. This means God gave her his power to speak the truth. She told Mary that she was blessed. This means God showed her special favor and help.

Then Mary spoke a beautiful song of praise. To praise means to say very good things about God. She called God her Savior. She thanked the Powerful One for choosing her. Mary was a lowly servant. She was humble and not rich or famous. She said that God is holy and shows mercy to those who worship him. Mercy is kindness and forgiveness shown to people. Mary said that God helps hungry people but sends proud people away. God did not forget his promise to his people. He remembered Abraham, the first father of the people of Israel.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she went back home.

This passage shows us how God keeps his promises and blesses people who trust him. It also teaches us to be thankful to God for his kindness. Like Mary, we can praise God for the good things he does in our lives.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Mary Visits Zechariah and Elizabeth
³⁹Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hill country of Judea.
⁴⁰She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴²In a loud voice she said to Mary, “God has blessed you more than any other woman.
And God has blessed the baby you will have.
⁴³You are the mother of my Lord, and you have come to me!
Why has something so good happened to me?
⁴⁴When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.
⁴⁵Great blessings are yours because you believed what the Lord said to you!
You believed this would happen.”
Mary Praises God
⁴⁶Then Mary said,
“I praise the Lord with all my heart.
⁴⁷I am very happy because God is my Savior.
⁴⁸I am not important, but he has shown his care for me, his lowly servant.
From now until the end of time, people will remember how much God blessed me.
⁴⁹Yes, the Powerful One has done great things for me.
His name is very holy.
⁵⁰He always gives mercy to those who worship him.
⁵¹He reached out his arm and showed his power.
He scattered those who are proud and think great things about themselves.
⁵²He brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble people.
⁵³He filled the hungry with good things, but he sent the rich away with nothing.
⁵⁴God has helped Israel—the people he chose to serve him.
He did not forget his promise to give us his mercy.
⁵⁵He has done what he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then went home.
Luke 1:39-56 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-To-Read Version: Luke 1:39-56 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 1:39-56 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 1:39-56 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 1:39-56 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 1:39-56 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 1:39-56 (ESV)

Luke 1:39-56 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

To what specific area did Mary travel to visit Elizabeth?
What did the unborn baby do when Mary greeted Elizabeth?
What filled Elizabeth right before she spoke to Mary?
Why did Elizabeth say Mary was blessed?
What does Mary do for the Lord with all her heart?
What special name did Mary use for God in her song?
How did Mary describe her own rank or importance?
What does the Powerful One do for those who are proud?
What does God do for people who are hungry?
To which ancestor did God make his original promise?

Application Questions

How do you feel when you read Mary’s song of praise?
How does it help your faith to know that God is your Savior?
Is it easy for you to feel joy when a friend receives a blessing?
Who is a relative or friend you can visit to show God’s love?
How can we show God’s mercy to lowly people in our city?

Theological Insights

God always keeps his promises to his people.
The Holy Spirit gives people the power to see God’s work.
God shows mercy to those who are humble and lowly.
Jesus is the Savior who brings blessings to the whole world.
God provides good things for the hungry and those in need.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
You are the Powerful One who does great things for us.
We are sorry for the times we are proud and do not seek you.
Thank you for your mercy and for keeping your promises to Abraham.
Please help us to serve you with a humble heart today.
Amen.