Luke 1:32 kjv
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:32 nkjv
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
Luke 1:32 niv
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:32 esv
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:32 nlt
He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
Luke 1 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-14 | When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom... I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son... | God's eternal covenant with David's house and Son. |
| Ps 2:7 | I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' | Prophecy of God's declared divine Sonship. |
| Is 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Prophecy of the child's divine nature and royal authority. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man... and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion | Prophecy of a celestial figure's eternal, universal kingship. |
| Ps 89:27 | I will make him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. | Messiah's preeminence and kingship. |
| Lk 1:35 | The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. | Direct parallel to Lk 1:32, confirms divine origin. |
| Mt 3:17 | And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." | God the Father's affirmation of Jesus' Sonship. |
| Jn 1:34 | And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. | John the Baptist's testimony to Jesus' divine identity. |
| Jn 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. | Jesus' unique divine Sonship and purpose. |
| Rom 1:3-4 | concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. | Jesus' Sonship confirmed by resurrection. |
| Heb 1:2-3 | but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature... | Jesus' divine preeminence and role in creation. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ | Jesus' exaltation and universal Lordship. |
| Acts 2:36 | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. | Peter's sermon, affirming Jesus' identity as Lord and Christ. |
| 1 Jn 4:15 | Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. | The core confession of Christian faith regarding Jesus' Sonship. |
| Gen 14:18-20 | Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High (El Elyon). And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth..." | "Most High" as a name for the sovereign, supreme God. |
| Ps 91:1 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (Elyon) will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. | Connects "Most High" to God's omnipotence and protection. |
| Mic 5:4 | And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. | Prophecy of the Messiah's greatness and dominion. |
| Zec 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. | Prophecy of Messiah's coming as king. |
| Lk 24:26-27 | Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. | Jesus' identity fulfilling OT prophecies about Messiah. |
| Jn 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. | Jesus' unique revelation of the Father due to His divine Sonship. |
| Jn 20:31 | but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. | Purpose of the Gospels: proving Jesus is the Christ, Son of God. |
| Heb 1:5 | For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? | Highlights Jesus' unique Sonship as superior to angels. |
| 1 Cor 15:28 | When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. | Future perfect submission of the Son to the Father after completing His work. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 32 Meaning
Luke 1:32 announces the extraordinary nature and identity of Jesus, who is to be born of Mary. The angelic pronouncement by Gabriel declares that this child will be "great," indicating His supreme significance and unparalleled authority among all individuals in history. More profoundly, He "will be called the Son of the Most High," directly asserting His divine origin and unique relationship with God. This statement establishes His rightful position as the unique divine Son of God, not merely a prophet or a king, but possessing a distinct divine nature.
Luke 1 32 Context
Luke 1:32 is part of the angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary, as recorded in Luke 1:26-38. Gabriel reveals that Mary, a virgin, will conceive and bear a son, Jesus, who will hold a unique and eternal status. This message directly follows the annunciation to Zachariah about John the Baptist, highlighting the distinct greatness and mission of Jesus in comparison. Historically, this promise is given to a Jewish virgin living under Roman occupation, longing for the promised Messiah who would liberate Israel and establish an eternal kingdom. The declaration identifies Jesus not merely as a great leader or prophet within the lineage of Israel's kings, but as the promised Son of David and, even more profoundly, as the "Son of the Most High," signifying His divine nature and ultimate authority. This proclamation connects deeply with Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah who would reign forever and bear a divine name, positioning Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises to both David and Israel.
Luke 1 32 Word analysis
- He: Refers to the male child, Jesus, to be born to Mary, signifying an immediate and specific personal identity.
- will be: Future tense, emphasizing certainty and divine decree. It speaks of an ordained reality that will unfold according to God's plan.
- great: (Greek: megas - μέγας). This signifies extraordinary significance, immense power, supreme authority, and unparalleled status. In a biblical context, it indicates greatness in moral, spiritual, and divine attributes, far beyond typical human understanding. It distinguishes Jesus from all other prominent figures. The term connects to prophecies of the Messiah's magnified rule and character (Mic 5:4, Is 9:6).
- and will be called: This phrasing denotes a widely recognized and true identity. "Being called" someone in biblical terms means truly "being" that person or having that characteristic, implying public acknowledgment of a genuine status or nature. It's not merely a title but an inherent truth about who He is.
- the Son: (Greek: huios - υἱός). Denotes intimate familial relationship and identity. In this context, combined with "Most High," it signifies divine filiation, a unique and preeminent relationship with God the Father, beyond adoption or mere creaturely status.
- of the Most High: (Greek: Hypsistos - Ὕψιστος). A significant title for God in both Old and New Testaments (often corresponding to Hebrew El Elyon). It denotes God's supremacy, sovereignty, transcendence, and absolute dominion over all creation. Attributing this title to God here underscores Jesus' divine nature as the unique Son of the supreme God. To be the "Son of the Most High" means He shares in God's divine essence and possesses His attributes.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- He will be great: This phrase distinguishes Jesus from other great figures throughout history. His greatness is inherent, not acquired or diminished by circumstances. It aligns Him with prophetic portrayals of the Messiah as a figure of unmatched glory and power, far exceeding the greatest human kings.
- and will be called the Son of the Most High: This is a crucial theological statement. It asserts Jesus' unique divine Sonship. "Called" implies universal recognition of this identity as true. Being the "Son of the Most High" indicates a sharing in the divine nature, making Him distinct from angels, prophets, or even the adopted children of God. It directly asserts His deity, distinguishing Him as uniquely begotten by God, the ultimate authority. This establishes a vertical relationship (God as Father, Jesus as Son) alongside the horizontal (Messiah, King of Davidic lineage) claims.
Luke 1 32 Bonus section
The title "Most High" (El Elyon) in the Old Testament is associated with God's sovereignty over all nations and creation (e.g., in Gen 14, Psa 78, Dan 4). By calling Jesus the "Son of the Most High," Luke implicitly connects Jesus' identity to the God worshipped by Abraham and acknowledged by even pagan kings (like Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4). This broadens Jesus' universal authority beyond just the Jewish people. The repeated phrase "will be called" in Luke 1:32 and Luke 1:35 ("called holy—the Son of God") underscores the absolute certainty and true nature of Jesus' identity from the moment of conception, confirming that His divine Sonship is not a status achieved, but one inherent from His very being.
Luke 1 32 Commentary
Luke 1:32 forms the theological cornerstone of the annunciation, profoundly declaring Jesus' unparalleled identity and nature. It transcends a mere messianic expectation by asserting His divinity through the title "Son of the Most High." Gabriel's declaration "He will be great" points to a greatness that is intrinsic and eternal, rooted in His divine essence, far surpassing any earthly monarch or spiritual leader. This statement, particularly "will be called the Son of the Most High," asserts His unique divine origin and intimate relationship with God, placing Him squarely in the divine realm. He is not just a servant or a chosen one, but the very Son, sharing in the attributes and sovereignty of God Himself. This declaration lays the foundation for Jesus' authority, miraculous power, and ultimate redemptive work. His kingship, promised in the subsequent verse, derives its power and eternality from His divine Sonship and His greatness as the "Son of the Most High."