Luke 1:50-53

1:50 from ¹  generation to generation he is merciful ²  to those who fear ³  him.

1:51 He has demonstrated power ⁴  with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance ⁵  of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the mighty ⁶  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; ⁷ 

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, ⁸  and has sent the rich away empty. ⁹ 

[1:50]  ¹ tn Grk “and from.” Here καί (kai) has been translated by a semicolon to improve the English style.

[1:50]  ² sn God’s mercy refers to his “loyal love” or “steadfast love,” expressed in faithful actions, as the rest of the psalm illustrates.

[1:50]  ³ tn That is, “who revere.” This refers to those who show God a reverential respect for his sovereignty.

[1:51]  ⁴ tn Or “shown strength,” “performed powerful deeds.” The verbs here switch to aorist tense through 1:55. This is how God will act in general for his people as they look to his ultimate deliverance.

[1:51]  ⁵ tn Grk “in the imaginations of their hearts.” The psalm rebukes the arrogance of the proud, who think that power is their sovereign right. Here διανοίᾳ (dianoia) can be understood as a dative of sphere or reference/respect.

[1:52]  ⁶ tn Or “rulers.”

[1:52]  ⁷ tn Or “those of humble position”

[1:53]  ⁸ sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.

[1:53]  ⁹ sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).