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.