In just about every image we see of Mary, it appears that she is in her very late teens or early twenties. She is youthful, but she also projects a level of maturity beyond her years. Scholars, however, say that Mary was most likely between the ages of 12 and 16 when she gave birth to Jesus. She was a mere teenager.
Can you imagine being in her position at that young age?
Set aside the monumental responsibility she committed to by telling the Angel Gabriel that she would accept God’s invitation to bear his son. That, in itself, was a bold move on her part. Add to that, knowing she would have to explain how she was with child when she hadn’t yet been with a man and her situation is amplified. Her heavenly commitment might have been less of a concern to her than how she would explain things here on Earth. And yet, she said yes to God.
Christianity.com says that during the time Mary lived, Jewish girls were commonly betrothed in their early teens, as young as age 12. This was the norm in Jewish culture. And perhaps that is why there is no reference in the Bible to Mary’s age when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus. You would think her age would have been recorded somewhere. But spiritandtruthonline.org explains why it was not an issue to the scribes that recorded the most important event in human history.
Mary’s age as she conceived and delivered Jesus wasn’t an issue or a concern, as it would be today. Her age, according to the website, wasn’t stated because if an event occurred that was not unusual, nothing would be said. So a pre-teen, perhaps as young as 12 or 13, having a baby wasn’t unusual during this period in history. The website gives this example: Today, if I tell you that I called my friend to talk, I wouldn’t say, “I called my friend on the telephone to talk.” It is understood that I would be using a phone, therefore not important or necessary to mention it.
In the book “Life in Biblical Israel” (by Philip J. King and Lawrence E. Stager ), it is said that in ancient Israel girls married quite young because it was necessary for them to bear many children. Continuing the family line and producing children that could work and protect the family was a high priority for the women of that era.
Mary’s faith in God and her acceptance of her role in his plan for salvation changed everything. I wonder, if she had been older and had more life experience, if she would have so willingly said yes.
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