Mary /ˈmɛri, ˈmæri, ˈmeri/
 瑪麗


 Mar·y n. Marrow. [Obs.]


 Ma·ry interj. See Marry. [Obs.]

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 Mary
      n : the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin
          Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics [syn:
          Virgin Mary, The Virgin, Blessed Virgin, Madonna]


 Mary
    Hebrew Miriam. (1.) The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus,
    called the "Virgin Mary," though never so designated in
    Scripture (Matt. 2:11; Acts 1:14). Little is known of her
    personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3. She was of
    the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Ps. 132:11; Luke
    1:32). She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of
    the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:36).

      While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she
    became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her
    that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah (Luke
    1:35). After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who
    was living with her husband Zacharias (probably at Juttah, Josh.
    15:55; 21:16, in the neighbourhood of Maon), at a considerable
    distance, about 100 miles, from Nazareth. Immediately on
    entering the house she was saluted by Elisabeth as the mother of
    her Lord, and then forthwith gave utterance to her hymn of
    thanksgiving (Luke 1:46-56; comp. 1 Sam. 2:1-10). After three
    months Mary returned to Nazareth to her own home. Joseph was
    supernaturally made aware (Matt. 1:18-25) of her condition, and
    took her to his own home. Soon after this the decree of Augustus
    (Luke 2:1) required that they should proceed to Bethlehem (Micah
    5:2), some 80 or 90 miles from Nazareth; and while they were
    there they found shelter in the inn or khan provided for
    strangers (Luke 2:6, 7). But as the inn was crowded, Mary had to
    retire to a place among the cattle, and there she brought forth
    her son, who was called Jesus (Matt. 1:21), because he was to
    save his people from their sins. This was followed by the
    presentation in the temple, the flight into Egypt, and their
    return in the following year and residence at Nazareth (Matt.
    2). There for thirty years Mary, the wife of Joseph the
    carpenter, resides, filling her own humble sphere, and pondering
    over the strange things that had happened to her. During these
    years only one event in the history of Jesus is recorded, viz.,
    his going up to Jerusalem when twelve years of age, and his
    being found among the doctors in the temple (Luke 2:41-52).
    Probably also during this period Joseph died, for he is not
    again mentioned.

      After the commencement of our Lord's public ministry little
    notice is taken of Mary. She was present at the marriage in
    Cana. A year and a half after this we find her at Capernaum
    (Matt. 12:46, 48, 49), where Christ uttered the memorable words,
    "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched
    forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother
    and my brethren!" The next time we find her is at the cross
    along with her sister Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and Salome, and
    other women (John 19:26). From that hour John took her to his
    own abode. She was with the little company in the upper room
    after the Ascension (Acts 1:14). From this time she wholly
    disappears from public notice. The time and manner of her death
    are unknown.

      (2.) Mary Magdalene, i.e., Mary of Magdala, a town on the
    western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. She is for the first time
    noticed in Luke 8:3 as one of the women who "ministered to
    Christ of their substance." Their motive was that of gratitude
    for deliverances he had wrought for them. Out of Mary were cast
    seven demons. Gratitude to her great Deliverer prompted her to
    become his follower. These women accompanied him also on his
    last journey to Jerusalem (Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:41; Luke 23:55).
    They stood near the cross. There Mary remained till all was
    over, and the body was taken down and laid in Joseph's tomb.
    Again, in the earliest dawn of the first day of the week she,
    with Salome and Mary the mother of James (Matt. 28:1; Mark
    16:2), came to the sepulchre, bringing with them sweet spices,
    that they might anoint the body of Jesus. They found the
    sepulchre empty, but saw the "vision of angels" (Matt. 28:5).
    She hastens to tell Peter and John, who were probably living
    together at this time (John 20:1, 2), and again immediately
    returns to the sepulchre. There she lingers thoughtfully,
    weeping at the door of the tomb. The risen Lord appears to her,
    but at first she knows him not. His utterance of her name "Mary"
    recalls her to consciousness, and she utters the joyful,
    reverent cry, "Rabboni." She would fain cling to him, but he
    forbids her, saying, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to
    my Father." This is the last record regarding Mary of Magdala,
    who now returned to Jerusalem. The idea that this Mary was "the
    woman who was a sinner," or that she was unchaste, is altogether
    groundless.

      (3.) Mary the sister of Lazarus is brought to our notice in
    connection with the visits of our Lord to Bethany. She is
    contrasted with her sister Martha, who was "cumbered about many
    things" while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen "the
    good part." Her character also appears in connection with the
    death of her brother (John 11:20,31,33). On the occasion of our
    Lord's last visit to Bethany, Mary brought "a pound of ointment
    of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus" as he
    reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a
    leper (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 12:2,3). This was an evidence
    of her overflowing love to the Lord. Nothing is known of her
    subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary's, and
    from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault
    (11:38), and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to
    condole with them on the death of Lazarus (11:19), that this
    family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.
    (See MARTHA.)

      (4.) Mary the wife of Cleopas is mentioned (John 19:25) as
    standing at the cross in company with Mary of Magdala and Mary
    the mother of Jesus. By comparing Matt. 27:56 and Mark 15:40, we
    find that this Mary and "Mary the mother of James the little"
    are on and the same person, and that she was the sister of our
    Lord's mother. She was that "other Mary" who was present with
    Mary of Magdala at the burial of our Lord (Matt. 27:61; Mark
    15:47); and she was one of those who went early in the morning
    of the first day of the week to anoint the body, and thus became
    one of the first witnesses of the resurrection (Matt. 28:1; Mark
    16:1; Luke 24:1).

      (5.) Mary the mother of John Mark was one of the earliest of
    our Lord's disciples. She was the sister of Barnabas (Col.
    4:10), and joined with him in disposing of their land and giving
    the proceeds of the sale into the treasury of the Church (Acts
    4:37; 12:12). Her house in Jerusalem was the common
    meeting-place for the disciples there.

      (6.) A Christian at Rome who treated Paul with special
    kindness (Rom. 16:6).



 Mary, same as Miriam