Luke 1:53-56

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.

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

[1:53]  ² sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).

[1:54]  ³ tn Or “because he remembered mercy,” understanding the infinitive as causal.

[1:54]  ⁴ tn Or “his [God’s] loyal love.”

[1:55]  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.

[1:55]  ⁶ tn Grk “fathers.”

[1:55]  ⁷ tn Grk “his seed” (an idiom for offspring or descendants).

[1:56]  ⁷ tn Grk “And.” Here (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.

[1:56]  ⁸ tn Grk “her”; the referent (Elizabeth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:56]  ⁹ sn As is typical with Luke the timing is approximate (about three months), not specific.