Luke 1:36

Cousin. Gr. suggenis, “kinswoman” or “relative.” Suggenis does not necessarily mean “cousin,” for it implies no more than that Mary and Elisabeth were relatives, with no indication as to degree of relationship. The law made provision for the intermarriage of the tribes (see on Num. 36:6), and members of the tribes of Levi and Judah often intermarried. Elisabeth was of the tribe of Levi (see on Luke 1:5); Mary was of the tribe of Judah (see on vs. 27, 32). If Mary was of Judah, it seems that Mary’s father would also be of Judah, and therefore it is probable that Mary’s connection with Elisabeth was either through her mother or through Elisabeth’s mother. The word “cousin” was first used here in Wyclif’s translation, at a time when the word did not have the specific meaning it does now. There is no exact term in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic to denote what we describe as a “cousin.” A misunderstanding of the problem has led some commentators to the false conjecture that Jesus was a descendant of both Levi and Judah. There is, however, no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mary was other than a direct descendant of David (see on v. 27).

In her old age. See on v. 7.