Limitless Word
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luke 1:48 · King James Version
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.
  • 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 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 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
  • 1 Cor 1:26–28For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
  • Mal 3:12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
  • Luke 11:27And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
  • Ps 136:23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
  • 1 Sam 1:11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
  • Luke 1:28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
  • Luke 1:42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
  • 2 Sam 7:18–19Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
  • Ps 113:7–8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
  • 1 Sam 2:8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
  • Jas 2:5–6Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
  • Gen 30:13And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
  • Isa 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
  • 2 Sam 7:8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
  • Ps 102:17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Luke videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Luke 1:48YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on LukeMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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.