Luke 1:53 kjv
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Luke 1:53 nkjv
He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
Luke 1:53 niv
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 1:53 esv
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
Luke 1:53 nlt
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
Luke 1 53 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 6:20-21 | "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God... Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied." | Jesus's Beatitudes affirm the blessedness of the poor and hungry, echoing Mary. |
| Lk 6:24-25 | "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort... Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry." | Jesus's Woes condemn the rich and self-satisfied. |
| Lk 16:19-31 | Parable of the rich man and Lazarus. | Illustrates reversal of fortunes based on earthly posture and divine judgment. |
| Jas 1:9-11 | "Let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his exaltation; and let the rich man glory in his humiliation." | Reflects divine abasement of the rich and exaltation of the poor. |
| Jas 2:5-7 | "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom?" | God's preferential choice for the materially poor, who are rich in faith. |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | (Hannah's Song) "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts... He raises the poor from the dust." | Direct Old Testament echo, showing God's sovereign power over human status. |
| Ps 34:10 | "The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." | Promises abundant provision for those who seek God. |
| Ps 107:9 | "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." | Direct Old Testament parallel to Luke 1:53, emphasizing God as the satisfier. |
| Ps 146:7-9 | "The Lord sets the prisoners free... The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down." | God's care for the oppressed and marginalized. |
| Mt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | Connects spiritual emptiness/humility with kingdom blessing. |
| Mt 5:6 | "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." | Expands "hunger" to spiritual longing for divine righteousness. |
| Job 5:11 | "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." | God's reversal of status for the humble. |
| Prov 11:25 | "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." | Principles of giving and receiving align with divine provision. |
| Prov 28:27 | "Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." | Connects care for the poor with God's provision and judgment. |
| Isa 41:17 | "The poor and needy seek water, and there is none... I, the Lord, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." | God's specific promise to provide for the destitute. |
| Eze 21:26 | "Thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high." | Prophetic vision of God overturning human power structures. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | Direct statement of God's character regarding pride and humility. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble... Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." | Encourages humility for eventual exaltation by God. |
| Lk 12:16-21 | Parable of the rich fool who stored up treasures but lost his life. | Warns against reliance on earthly wealth and forgetting God. |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God." | Admonishes the wealthy against self-reliance and false hope. |
| Rev 3:17-18 | (Laodicea) "You say, I am rich... but do not know that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." | Spiritual emptiness of those who consider themselves wealthy. |
Luke 1 verses
Luke 1 53 Meaning
Luke 1:53 expresses a foundational principle of God's Kingdom, as declared in Mary's Magnificat: God's justice involves a radical reversal of human fortunes and expectations. He abundantly provides for those who acknowledge their deep spiritual and often physical need ("the hungry"), satisfying them with all that is truly good. Conversely, those who rely on their own perceived self-sufficiency, especially material wealth ("the rich"), are left devoid of divine blessing, experiencing a profound emptiness despite their earthly possessions. This verse highlights God's character as one who champions the humble and brings low the proud.
Luke 1 53 Context
Luke 1:53 is a key part of Mary's song of praise, known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). This song is her joyful and prophetic response after Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized Mary as the mother of the Lord. The Magnificat is steeped in Old Testament themes and echoes the song of Hannah (1 Sam 2), celebrating God's power and faithfulness to His covenant promises. In the broader chapter, we see the miraculous annunciations of both John the Baptist and Jesus, preparing the way for God's redemptive work through the Messiah. Historically and culturally, first-century Judea under Roman occupation experienced stark economic disparities. There was a significant divide between the landowning elite, temple authorities, and Roman-backed officials who enjoyed wealth and status, and the vast majority of the population who were poor, laborers, and marginalized. This social context gives immense weight to Mary's declaration, which functions as both a hymn of hope for the oppressed and a warning to the self-sufficient. Her words contain a polemic against human systems of power, wealth, and status that often oppose God's kingdom values, asserting that God intervenes to reverse such inequities.
Luke 1 53 Word analysis
- He has filled (ἐνέπλησεν - eneplēsen): A completed past action by God. The aorist tense emphasizes the definitive nature of this divine act, pointing to God's continuous and powerful intervention. It conveys abundant satisfaction, not merely provision.
- the hungry (πεινῶντας - peinōntas): A present participle, indicating an ongoing state of being hungry. This describes those who are continually experiencing need, not just physically but often spiritually, representing a deep craving for something only God can provide. Their hunger makes them receptive to God's grace.
- with good things (ἀγαθῶν - agathōn): This plural noun in the genitive case signifies quality and abundance. It refers to blessings, favor, divine provision, salvation, spiritual nourishment, and everything truly beneficial and pleasing to God. It stands in contrast to fleeting material wealth.
- and sent... away (ἐξαπέστειλεν - exapesteilen): Another aorist verb, signifying a decisive act of dismissal or rejection by God. This is an intentional removal, not just a casual departure. It underscores God's sovereign judgment.
- the rich (πλουτοῦντας - ploutountas): A present participle, describing those in a continuous state of being rich. This refers not just to material wealth, but particularly to those who are characterized by their reliance on their riches and self-sufficiency, often accompanied by pride and neglect of God.
- empty (κενούς - kenous): This adjective powerfully contrasts with "filled with good things." It signifies being void, hollow, bare, or without value. Despite their material possessions, they are left spiritually destitute and without the true blessings of God.
Words-group analysis:
- "He has filled the hungry with good things": This phrase showcases God's compassionate and generous character as a divine provider. It suggests that those who humble themselves and recognize their need (the hungry in spirit) are the recipients of God's abundant grace, which extends beyond physical food to include spiritual salvation and favor. It implies that true fulfillment comes from dependence on God.
- "and sent the rich away empty": This striking antithesis highlights God's justice and judgment. The "rich" here are those who depend on their wealth or self-reliance, rather than on God. Their being "sent away empty" means they are devoid of God's spiritual blessings and genuine fulfillment, revealing that worldly prosperity, without God, is ultimately hollow and leads to spiritual poverty. This phrase functions as a strong polemic against worldly pride and self-sufficiency.
Luke 1 53 Bonus section
Mary's Magnificat shares remarkable literary and thematic parallels with Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2, reinforcing the continuity of God's redemptive work across Testaments and signaling that Mary's experience is part of a larger divine narrative of overturning the powerful and exalting the lowly. This verse is not advocating for destitution but for a spiritual posture of humility and dependence on God. The "good things" God provides are not exclusively material; they encompass spiritual blessing, salvation, righteousness, and His presence, which are true riches in His Kingdom. The "emptiness" of the rich points to their spiritual destitution, highlighting that self-reliance is ultimately futile. This verse, therefore, challenges humanity to examine where its true security and fulfillment lie.
Luke 1 53 Commentary
Luke 1:53, within Mary's revolutionary Magnificat, proclaims God's consistent work of reversing human order. It asserts that God intentionally elevates the humble and brings low the proud. "The hungry" symbolize those who are aware of their deep needs, whether material, emotional, or spiritual, and are therefore open to God's intervention. God meets their vulnerability with overflowing provision and divine goodness, demonstrating His abundant grace to the dependent. Conversely, "the rich" represent those who, confident in their own resources and perceived self-sufficiency, often harbor pride and a lack of dependence on God. God, in His justice, dismisses them as "empty," revealing the hollowness and spiritual poverty that lies beneath their material wealth. This is not necessarily a condemnation of wealth itself but a profound warning against placing trust in it or allowing it to breed self-sufficiency apart from God. Mary's declaration champions the values of humility and reliance on God as prerequisites for true blessedness and highlights that God's Kingdom radically redefines what constitutes true richness and poverty.
Examples:
- Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16): The rich man lived in luxury but died in torment; Lazarus, the poor man, was carried by angels to Abraham's side.
- The early Church (Acts 2:44-45): Believers shared possessions, ensuring none were needy, reflecting the "filled" and "empty" principle within the community.
- Jesus's call to the rich young ruler (Lk 18:22): The rich man could not part with his wealth, showing the emptiness of riches without eternal life.