1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, 1 and has sent the rich away empty. 2
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering 3 his mercy, 4
1:55 as he promised 5 to our ancestors, 6 to Abraham and to his descendants 7 forever.”
1:56 So 8 Mary stayed with Elizabeth 9 about three months 10 and then returned to her home.
1 sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.
2 sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).
3 tn Or “because he remembered mercy,” understanding the infinitive as causal.
4 tn Or “his [God’s] loyal love.”
5 tn Grk “as he spoke.” Since this is a reference to the covenant to Abraham, ἐλάλησεν (elalhsen) can be translated in context “as he promised.” God keeps his word.
6 tn Grk “fathers.”
7 tn Grk “his seed” (an idiom for offspring or descendants).
7 tn Grk “And.” Here (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.
8 tn Grk “her”; the referent (Elizabeth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 sn As is typical with Luke the timing is approximate (about three months), not specific.