Luke 1:54
What does Luke 1:54 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 1:54 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 1:54 means
Mary declares God has helped Israel, his servant, to remember mercy. She roots God’s acts in covenant loyalty: God’s help to Israel is to recall and fulfill his mercy toward the patriarchs. Israel is described collectively as God’s servant, emphasizing covenant relationship and historical faithfulness. Mary frames current events as continuation and fulfillment of promises made to Israel, locating her experience within God’s ongoing work for his people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy
KJV
King James Version · 1611He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,
Context
This verse connects the Magnificat’s reversals with covenantal memory. After describing social outcomes, Mary grounds them in God’s commitment to Israel and mercy toward the patriarchs. The next verse explicitly mentions Abraham, linking present blessing to ancient promises.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zephaniah 3:14
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 44:21
Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
- Luke 1:70
(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- Isaiah 63:7
I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah, and the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
- Isaiah 49:14
But Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me.
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