Luke 1:52 (WEB)
He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 1:52–53 (KJV)
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Key words
- καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνωνkatheilen dynastas apo thronōn · Greek
- 'He hath put down the mighty from their seats' — literally 'from thrones'; royal language.
- ὕψωσεν ταπεινούςhypsōsen tapeinous · Greek
- 'exalted them of low degree' — the same root as 'the low estate (tapeinōsis) of his handmaiden' (1:48); Mary speaks first of herself.
Why it matters
God has cast the mighty down from their thrones and exalted the lowly. Pitre reads the Magnificat as throne language (pp 77–78): Mary, who has just called herself God's lowly handmaid, is the first of the lowly exalted; when the mighty are put down from thrones, others take their place; and 'all generations will call me blessed' echoes what Psalm 45:17 says of the king. Mother and Son are being seated on the thrones of the Davidic king and queen mother.
Catechism · 4
In the Fullness of Time
“That is why the Canticle of Mary,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 1:46-55.
The Way of Prayer
“In countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer, two movements usually alternate with one another: the first "magnifies" the Lord for the "great things" he did for his lowly servant and through her for all human beings” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 1:46-55.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit. In Abraham's progeny all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
“It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 1:46-55.
Fathers and councils · 10
Eusebius of Caesarea
“The hungry he hath filled with good things and the arms of the proud he hath broken.’” — editor's note: Luke i. 52, 53.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“Men exalted with pride He utterly overthrows, and rewards the humble and the patient according to their deserts.” — editor's note: Cf. Luke i. 52
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Tertullian
“This we sometimes interpretatively ascribe to the devil, for of him comes hatred of good; sometimes we attribute it to God, for of Him comes judgment upon haughtiness, exalting, as He does, the humble, and depressing the elated.” — editor's note: Comp. Ps. cxlvii. (in LXX. and Vulg. cxlvi.) 6; Luke i. 52.
Read the whole comment“I think that we have already, in another passage, sufficiently shown that the glory of riches is condemned by our God, “who putteth down the mighty from their throne, and exalts the poor from the dunghill.”” — editor's note: Comp. 1 Sam. ii. 8 with Ps. cxiii. 7 and Luke i. 52.
Read the whole comment“…of luxury, announced indeed by Moses and the prophets, but decreed by that God, who deposes princes from their thrones, and raiseth up the poor from dunghills.” — editor's note: See 1 Sam. ii. 6–8, Ps. cxiii. 7, and Luke i. 52.
Read the whole comment“It would seem, therefore, that Marcion’s god imitates the Creator’s conduct, who is an enemy to the proud, even “putting down the mighty from their seats.”” — editor's note: 1 Sam. ii. 7, 8; Ps. cxlvii. 6; Luke i. 52.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…Him, recognized Him; that Zacharias, being filled with the Holy Ghost, said many things; that Mary herself received the Holy Ghost to conceive the Lord.” — editor's note: Luke i. 35–79.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
The words, He hath shewed strength with his arm, and those which went before, And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation, must be joined to this verse by a comma only. For truly through all…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The mighty in knowledge were the evil spirits, the Devil, the wise ones of the Gentiles, the Scribes and Pharisees; yet these He hath put down, and raised up those who humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
For our understanding is acknowledged to be the judgment-seat of God, but after the transgression, the powers of evil took their seat in the heart of the first man as on their own throne. For this reason then the…
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Cross-references · 9
Cited together with
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 1:52 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §722.
Cited together in Ecclesiastical History I.25.
Cited together in Ecclesiastical History I.25.
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 1:52 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 15.
Cited together in Catechism §722.
Cited together in Ecclesiastical History I.25.
Quotes
The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers and seats the lowly in their place.