Luke 1:52

He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

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Other translations

WEBBE

He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

BSB

He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

KJV

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

ASV

He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

BBE

He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.

Original Greek

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καθεῖλεν katheilen He has brought down G2507 δυνάστας dunastas rulers G1413 ἀπὸ apo from G575 θρόνων thronōn thrones G2362 καὶ kai and G2532 ὕψωσεν hupsōsen exalted G5312 ταπεινούς tapeinous [the] humble G5011

The early church

The mighty in knowledge were the evil spirits, the Devil, the wise ones of the Gentiles, the Scribes and Pharisees; yet these He hath put down, and raised up those who humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Pet. 5:6); giving them the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19.) The Jews were also at one time puffed up with power, but unbelief slew them, and the mean and lowly of the Gentiles have through faith climbed up to the highest summit.
Cyril of Alexandria · d. 444Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
The words, He hath showed strength with his arm, and those which went before, And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation, must be joined to this verse by a comma only. For truly through all generations of the world, by a merciful and just administration of Divine power, the proud do not cease to fall, and the humble to be exalted. As it is said, He hath put down the mighty from their seat, he hath exalted the humble and meek.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
This might also be understood of the Jews whom He scattered into all lands as they are now scattered.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(Macarius ex Serm. 1.) For our understanding is acknowledged to be the judgment-seat of God, but after the transgression, the powers of evil took their seat in the heart of the first man as on their own throne. For this reason then the Lord came and cast out the evil spirits from the seat of our will, and raised up those who were vanquished by devils, purging their consciences, and making their hearts his own dwelling place.
Ancient Greek Expositor · d. 1274Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 1 →

Cross-references

13

Topics

PrideHumility

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.