Devine Scripture

Luke 1:51

What does Luke 1:51 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 1:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 1:51 means

Mary proclaims God has shown strength with his arm and scattered the proud in their imaginations. The imagery of the arm signals decisive, salvific action. Scattering the proud depicts God’s judgment on arrogant schemes. Mary sees God actively opposing human self-exaltation, dismantling proud plans that oppose his will. The verse highlights a recurring biblical theme: God’s power executes justice by reversing the proud’s expectations and protecting the humble.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty [ones] in the thought of their heart.

Context

This verse begins a series illustrating the social consequences of God’s mighty acts. After praising God’s mercy, Mary now describes how God’s strength operates against pride. The subsequent verses will show concrete reversals—exaltation of the lowly and filling of the hungry—demonstrating the ethical and social dimensions of God’s saving work.

v.50And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

v.51This passage

v.52He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Deuteronomy 29:19

    and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5

    casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

  • Isaiah 10:12

    Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

  • Isaiah 63:12

    that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

  • Isaiah 52:10

    Jehovah hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

  • 1 Samuel 2:3

    Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.

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