Luke 1:50-55

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 

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering ¹⁰  his mercy, ¹¹ 

1:55 as he promised ¹²  to our ancestors, ¹³  to Abraham and to his descendants ¹⁴  forever.”

[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]  ⁷ tn Or “rulers.”

[1:52]  ⁸ tn Or “those of humble position”

[1:53]  ¹⁰ sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.

[1:53]  ¹¹ sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).

[1:54]  ¹³ tn Or “because he remembered mercy,” understanding the infinitive as causal.

[1:54]  ¹⁴ tn Or “his [God’s] loyal love.”

[1:55]  ¹⁶ 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.

[1:55]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “fathers.”

[1:55]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “his seed” (an idiom for offspring or descendants).