English Standard Version
Luke 1:52
52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
Context of Luke 1:52
50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
Read all of Luke 1Luke 1:52 word by word
καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Luke 1:52
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
- 1 Samuel 2:4The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
- Job 5:11he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
- Job 34:24He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.
- Psalms 107:40he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
- Psalms 113:6who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
- Ecclesiastes 4:14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.
- Ezekiel 17:24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it."
- Amos 9:11"In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,
- Mark 6:3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
- James 1:9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
- James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries