Luke 1:52

Luke 1:52 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
• New International Version (NIV)He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
• New King James Version (NKJV)He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

Context of Luke 1:52

50And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him. 51He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And exalted those who were humble. 53He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent the rich away empty-handed. 54He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

Luke 1:52 word by word

καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He hath put downκαθαιρέωkathaireō · to take downG2507
• the mightyδυνάστηςdunastēs · rulerG1413
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• seatsθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• exaltedὑψόωhupsoō · to lift upG5312
• them of low degreeταπεινόςtapeinos · lowlyG5011

Cross-references for Luke 1:52

• Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”
• 1 Samuel 2:4The bows of the mighty are broken, But those who have stumbled equip themselves with strength.
• Job 5:11So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And He lifts to safety those who mourn.
• Job 34:24He breaks mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
• Psalms 107:40He pours contempt on princes And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
• Psalms 113:6Who humbles Himself to regard The heavens and the earth?
• Ecclesiastes 4:14for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
• Ezekiel 17:24All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will fulfill it.”
• Amos 9:11“In that day I shall raise up and restore the fallen tabernacle (booth) of David, And wall up its breaches [in the city walls]; I will also raise up and restore its ruins And rebuild it as it was in the days of old,
• Mark 6:3Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are His sisters not here with us?” And they were [deeply] offended by Him [and their disapproval blinded them to the fact that He was anointed by God as the Messiah].
• James 1:9Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];
• James 4:10Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

Commentaries on Luke 1:52

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats - Or, He hath taken down potentates from their thrones. This probably alludes to the removal of Saul from the throne of Israel, and the establishment of the kingdom in the person and family of David. And as Mary spoke prophetically, this saying may also allude to the destruction of the kingdom of Satan and his allies, and the final prevalence of the kingdom of Christ.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 52Hath put down the mighty - The “mighty” here denotes princes, kings, or conquerors. See Isaiah 14:12-14. Their seats - Their “thrones,” or the places where they sat in pomp and power. Exalted them - Raised them up, or placed them in the seats of those who had been removed. Low degree - Low or humble birth and condition in life. This probably has reference to the case of her ancestor David. Mary was celebrating the mercies of God to herself, to her family…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-56Verses 39-56 It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 46-55Mary’s song is the first of three songs of praise in the birth story of Jesus. It is called the Magnificat (Latin for “magnifies”). The song has many similarities to Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. The fact that God cares for the oppressed and reverses their fortunes is a common theme throughout Luke’s Gospel. The coming of God’s kingdom brings salvation to rejected and outcast people.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 46-5546-55. A magnificent canticle, in which the strain of Hannah's ancient song, in like circumstances, is caught up, and just slightly modified and sublimed. Is it unnatural to suppose that the spirit of the blessed Virgin had been drawn beforehand into mysterious sympathy with the ideas and the tone of this hymn, so that when the life and fire of inspiration penetrated her whole soul it spontaneously swept the chorus of this song, enriching the Hymnal of…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 1:52

• Elisabeth (Elizabeth)
• Humility
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joy
• Magnificat
• Mary
• Miracles
• Poetry
• Praise
• Pride
• Psalms
• Readings, Select
• Women
• Zacharias (Zechariah)

In the dictionaries

• Begin
• Certainty
• Conceive
• Estate
• Hannah
• Mary
• Ministration
• Noise
• Righteousness
• Salutation

Commentaries on Luke 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings