for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
Parallel translations
- WEB for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
- KJV For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
- BSB For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
- NKJV For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
- NASB “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
- NLT For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God has regarded Mary's humble state, so all generations will call her blessed. He exalts the lowly by grace.
Overview
Mary marvels that God chose someone of low standing for such honor. Her blessedness comes from God's gracious favor, not her own merit. Her words display the biblical pattern of God lifting up the humble.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 138:6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.
- 1 Cor 1:26–28For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
- Mal 3:12“All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Luke 11:27It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”
- Ps 136:23Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever;
- 1 Sam 1:11She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
- Luke 1:28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
- Luke 1:42She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
- 2 Sam 7:18–19Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
- Ps 113:7–8He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;
- 1 Sam 2:8He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them.
- Jas 2:5–6Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
- Gen 30:13Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.
- Isa 66:2For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says Yahweh: “but to this man will I look, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
- 2 Sam 7:8Now therefore tell my servant David this, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel.
- Ps 102:17He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 1:48 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.