New International Version
Luke 1:52
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
Context of Luke 1:52
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
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 18:14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- 1 Samuel 2:4“The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
- Job 5:11The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
- Job 34:24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.
- Psalms 107:40he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste.
- Psalms 113:6who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
- Ecclesiastes 4:14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
- Ezekiel 17:24All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “ ‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’ ”
- Amos 9:11“In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be,
- Mark 6:3Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
- James 1:9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
- James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries