Luke 1 52

Luke 1:52 kjv

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:52 nkjv

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

Luke 1:52 niv

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

Luke 1:52 esv

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

Luke 1:52 nlt

He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 52 Meaning

Luke 1:52 is a profound declaration by Mary, reflecting God's character and the principles of His coming kingdom. It signifies a dramatic reversal of earthly power and status by divine intervention. God actively dislodges the proud and mighty from their positions of authority and honor, while simultaneously elevating and esteeming those who are humble and lowly in societal standing. This statement reveals God's justice, His opposition to human arrogance, and His compassionate care for the oppressed and marginalized, emphasizing that true power and honor in His economy are found not in worldly might but in humility and dependence on Him.

Luke 1 52 Context

Luke 1:52 is an integral part of Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), her joyous and prophetic hymn of praise to God, spoken when she visits her cousin Elizabeth. Immediately preceding this verse, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, acknowledges Mary as "blessed among women" and the "mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:42-43). In response, Mary, also filled with the Holy Spirit, begins to declare the greatness and character of God. The Magnificat, drawing heavily on Old Testament themes, particularly Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2, reveals Mary's deep understanding of God's redemptive plan and His nature.

In its broader context, Luke Chapter 1 sets the stage for the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus. It portrays God actively working within history to fulfill His promises to Israel. The historical and cultural backdrop is that of Jewish people under Roman occupation, longing for a deliverer. Society was stratified, with powerful religious and political elites at the top and the vast majority of people, often poor and powerless, at the bottom. Mary herself, a humble Galilean woman betrothed to a carpenter, embodies the "humble estate" that God exalts. Her song prophetically declares a divinely orchestrated reversal of this order, which Jesus's ministry will subsequently embody and establish.

Luke 1 52 Word analysis

• He has brought down: Greek: καθεῖλεν (katheilen). This is an aorist active indicative verb, from kathaireō, meaning "to take down, pull down, demolish, remove." The aorist tense often indicates a completed action in the past, but here it is used prophetically (a "prophetic aorist" or "aorist of timeless truth"), describing God's consistent nature and future definitive action as if already accomplished because it is so certain in His divine plan. It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and power in actively dismantling established structures and authority.

• the mighty: Greek: δυνάστας (dynastas). Plural noun, from dynastēs, referring to rulers, potentates, powerful individuals, those holding great power or authority, whether political, military, or social. This word encompasses those who wield earthly power, often characterized by arrogance, self-reliance, and opposition to God's will. It challenges the worldly definition of "might."

• from their thrones: Greek: θρόνων (thronōn). Plural noun, from thronos, meaning a seat of authority, a throne, signifying royalty, dominion, and positions of power. The act of bringing down from thrones signifies a complete dethronement, a removal of their source of authority and perceived greatness, leading to humiliation and loss of status.

• and exalted: Greek: ὕψωσεν (hypsōsen). This is also an aorist active indicative verb, from hypsoo, meaning "to lift up, raise high, elevate, promote, exalt, glorify." It is the direct antithesis of "brought down" and underscores God's sovereign ability to change human status dramatically. Like "brought down," its prophetic aorist emphasizes the certainty of God's act.

• those of humble estate: Greek: ταπεινούς (tapeinous). Plural adjective, from tapeinos, meaning low-lying, humble, lowly, modest, poor, downtrodden, meek, or unpretentious. This term often refers to those who are economically, socially, or politically disadvantaged, but also carries strong spiritual connotations. It denotes those who are not self-reliant, who acknowledge their dependence on God, and who adopt a posture of humility and meekness. It points to a reversal where God honors spiritual lowliness rather than worldly success.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones": This phrase emphatically declares God's active, decisive, and irreversible action against worldly power and pride. It's a statement about divine justice and the dismantling of human hierarchies built on self-exaltation. This is a prophetic statement, highlighting God's continuous pattern throughout history to resist the proud and bring them low, revealing His opposition to all who exalt themselves apart from Him.
  • "and exalted those of humble estate": This parallel phrase equally underscores God's counter-action. He doesn't just tear down; He also builds up. This exaltation isn't based on worldly merit or status, but on a spiritual disposition of humility and dependence on God. This demonstrates God's preference and favor for those who are marginalized and who recognize their need for Him. The complete reversal implies that God values entirely different qualities than the world.

Luke 1 52 Bonus section

• The prophetic aorist tense of both "brought down" and "exalted" imbues Mary's statement with immense theological weight, signaling that these actions are not merely a future hope but are as good as accomplished in God's eternal decree and ongoing work in history. This divine reversal is a present reality in God's sight, actively unfolding.
• The Magnificat as a whole is often called a "revolutionary hymn" or "the song of the social revolution" because of its clear alignment with the poor and oppressed and its stark critique of established powers. However, it's crucial to understand that this "revolution" is divinely initiated, not humanly organized or achieved through worldly violence. It flows from God's righteous character and His covenant faithfulness, ushering in the new order of His kingdom.
• Luke's Gospel consistently emphasizes God's favor for the poor and marginalized ("anawim" in Old Testament terms), themes that are profoundly present in Luke 1:52. Jesus's ministry later demonstrated this preference explicitly, teaching blessedness for the poor in spirit and those who hunger for righteousness, and pronouncing woes on the rich and self-satisfied.
• This verse stands as an indirect but potent polemic against the oppressive Roman Empire and its imperial cult, which reveled in human might, military conquest, and emperor worship. Mary's song proclaims that God alone is the true potentate, who judges and overthrows worldly dominions according to His righteous standards.

Luke 1 52 Commentary

Luke 1:52, part of Mary's Magnificat, stands as a core revelation of God's justice and the radical values of His kingdom. It is not merely a social or political statement, but a theological truth about the character of God, who delights in reversing human-made hierarchies. God actively resists those who cling to their worldly power, wealth, or perceived superiority, recognizing them as an affront to His sovereignty. He instead lifts up the "humble," not just the economically poor, but those who are meek in spirit, dependent on Him, and who have not sought their own glory. This act of divine reversal began decisively with Christ's humble birth—the Messiah arriving not in power, but vulnerability—and will be fully consummated in His future reign. The verse reminds believers that true status and honor come from God and are given to those who humble themselves before Him, illustrating that strength in God's economy is found in weakness, and exaltation through humility.