Luke 1:48 kjv
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luke 1:48 nkjv
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Luke 1:48 niv
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
Luke 1:48 esv
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
Luke 1:48 nlt
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
Luke 1 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust... | Hannah's song parallels God exalting the humble and lowly. |
| Ps 113:7-8 | He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes... | God elevates the humble and outcasts to places of honor. |
| Ps 138:6 | Though the Lord is on high, He regards the lowly, but the proud He knows from afar. | God gives attention and favor to the humble. |
| Jas 4:6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | God's active favor is given to those who humble themselves. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | Exhortation to humility, reinforcing God's favor for the humble. |
| Prov 3:34 | Toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He gives grace. | Reiterates God's character in opposing pride and favoring humility. |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit..." | God's presence and favor are with the humble and repentant. |
| Zech 3:12 | But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly; and they will trust in the name of the Lord. | Prophecy of God choosing a humble remnant. |
| 1 Cor 1:27-28 | But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world... | God often uses the seemingly insignificant to achieve His great purposes. |
| Lk 1:38 | Then Mary said, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." | Mary's initial expression of humility and submission to God's will. |
| Phil 2:7-8 | but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men... | Christ's ultimate example of divine humility, taking a "bondservant" form. |
| Rom 6:22 | But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness... | Believers are called to be willing "bondservants" of God. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing... | Promise of blessing and becoming a blessing to future generations. |
| Ps 45:17 | I will make your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever. | Prophetic praise across generations, akin to Mary's declaration. |
| Prov 31:28 | Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her... | A virtuous woman is called "blessed" by her family, reflecting the idea of praise. |
| Mal 3:12 | "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts. | Prophetic declaration of future universal blessing on God's people. |
| Lk 11:27-28 | As He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Acknowledges Mary's unique blessedness but directs the focus to spiritual obedience as greater blessedness for all. |
| Gen 30:13 | Then Leah said, "Happy am I! For the daughters will call me blessed." So she called his name Asher. | Leah's prophetic statement about being called blessed by other women. |
| Zeph 2:3 | Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. | Seeking humility as a path to divine favor and shelter. |
| Matt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | The first Beatitude, highlighting the blessedness of humility before God. |
| Ps 86:16 | Look on me and have mercy on me; Grant Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. | A prayer acknowledging oneself as God's servant, child of His maidservant. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 48 Meaning
Luke 1:48 expresses Mary's recognition that God, in His sovereign power and benevolent regard, specifically noticed her humble status and chosen her, an ordinary handmaiden, for an extraordinary divine purpose. This profound act of divine favor would lead all subsequent generations to acknowledge her unique blessedness and the grace bestowed upon her. It is a prophetic declaration rooted in God's nature to lift up the lowly.
Luke 1 48 Context
Luke 1:48 is part of the "Magnificat" (Lk 1:46-55), Mary's hymn of praise and prophecy delivered after her cousin Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized Mary's blessed role as the mother of the Lord (Lk 1:41-45). This entire section highlights God's choice of the humble and seemingly insignificant, specifically Mary, a young Jewish woman from Nazareth, to be the instrument of His greatest redemptive act—the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Mary's song echoes Hannah's prayer from 1 Samuel 2, reinforcing the biblical theme that God overturns human expectations, exalting the lowly and bringing down the proud, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant and promises of salvation for His people Israel and eventually all humanity. The verse sets the theological foundation for understanding God's nature to initiate salvation through humble means, aligning with the "poor in spirit" who would inherit the kingdom of God.
Luke 1 48 Word analysis
- For He has regarded (ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν - hoti ep'eblepsen):
ep'eblepsen(fromepiblepō): Means to look upon, to observe, but often with an accompanying sense of paying attention or showing regard, favor, or pity. It is a purposeful and favorable glance, implying divine choice and care. This is not a casual observation but a divine act of purposeful intervention.
- the lowly state (τὴν ταπείνωσιν - tēn tapeinōsin):
tapeinōsin: Denotes humility, lowliness, abasement, or humble condition. It refers to Mary's social, economic, and political obscurity and lack of status. It also suggests her humble disposition and submission before God. God's act highlights His focus on the internal heart condition and His willingness to work through the seemingly weak and unimportant by human standards.
- of His bondservant (τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ - tēs doulēs autou):
doulēs: A female slave or bondservant. In a spiritual context, it signifies willing and devoted submission to God, a position of honor and intimacy for one fully surrendered to divine will (as Mary affirmed in Lk 1:38). It speaks of ultimate ownership and complete dedication, highlighting Mary's total yielding to God's plan.
- For behold (ἰδοὺ γάρ - idou gar):
idou: "Behold!" An interjection used to draw immediate attention to what follows, emphasizing its importance and certainty.gar: "For" or "because." It provides the reason or explanation for the preceding statement (God's regard) and connects it to the consequent blessing.
- from now on (ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν - apo tou nyn):
- Marks the beginning of a new era or state of affairs. The blessing and recognition begin immediately and continue into the indefinite future, signaling a permanent change wrought by God's action.
- all generations (πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί - pasai hai geneai):
- Refers to all future people, extending across time and cultures. It's a prophetic statement of universal and enduring recognition, indicating that the significance of Mary's role and God's favor would never fade.
- will call me blessed (μακαριοῦσίν με - makariousin me):
makariousin(frommakarizō): To pronounce or declare someone blessed, happy, or fortunate. This term signifies a state of true felicity given by divine favor. It's not a human bestowing of blessing but an acknowledgment of a divine reality. This prophecy highlights God's intention for His chosen ones to be honored, confirming the fulfillment through countless generations who esteem Mary as blessed by God.
Words-group analysis
- "He has regarded the lowly state of His bondservant": This phrase encapsulates God's specific and compassionate action towards Mary. It highlights God's counter-cultural way of choosing His instruments, favoring the humble and disregarded in the world's eyes over the powerful or privileged, thus revealing His divine nature and kingdom principles.
- "from now on all generations will call me blessed": This prophetic declaration confidently announces the universal and enduring consequence of God's choice. It signifies the lasting impact of God's intervention, securing Mary's perpetual remembrance and honor among believers, not through her own merit but as a direct result of God's sovereign grace and purpose.
Luke 1 48 Bonus section
- Polemics against Contemporary Beliefs: This verse implicitly challenges Roman, Jewish, and even later Christian tendencies to associate divine favor with earthly power, wealth, or high social standing. By selecting a humble, unpropertied, and unmarried virgin from a Galilean backwater, God actively demonstrates that His chosen vessels often defy human expectations, proving His kingdom operates on different principles than the world's.
- The Nature of "Blessedness": Mary’s statement is a prophecy of acknowledgment, not worship. "Call me blessed" (
makariousin me) indicates that future generations will recognize the divine favor on her, not that she becomes a source of blessing or a co-redeemer. Her blessedness flows solely from God's act. - Biblical Pattern: Mary's experience and song are deeply rooted in Old Testament narratives. The pattern of God using the unlikely (Abraham and Sarah's old age, Moses' speech impediment, David the shepherd boy) and lifting the humble (Hannah from barrenness) resonates strongly here. Luke's Magnificat deliberately mirrors Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2, showcasing God's consistent character throughout history.
- Fulfilled Prophecy: The historical reality that billions of Christians throughout the centuries (Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestants in various ways) have acknowledged Mary's unique status and referred to her as "blessed" stands as a tangible fulfillment of her inspired prophetic utterance.
Luke 1 48 Commentary
Luke 1:48 profoundly expresses Mary's recognition of God's particular attentiveness to her, not because of her earthly status, but due to His grace and her humble devotion. It is a pivotal moment in the Magnificat, underscoring a consistent biblical theme: God chooses the lowly, the weak, and the obscure to achieve His glorious purposes, thereby confounding human pride and revealing His unparalleled power and compassion. Mary’s declaration, made in the Holy Spirit, is a prophecy of lasting reverence for her role as the Mother of the Lord, affirming God's plan to reverse earthly fortunes and bless those who trust and surrender to Him.