He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
Parallel translations
- WEB He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
- KJV He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
- NKJV He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
- NASB “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.
- NLT He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
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 brings down rulers and lifts up the lowly. He reverses worldly status.
Overview
Mary proclaims God's pattern of dethroning the powerful and exalting the humble. This great reversal characterizes God's kingdom, which Jesus will inaugurate. The coming of Christ overturns human pride and honors the lowly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ezek 17:24Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
- Jas 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
- Ps 107:40–41He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
- 1 Sam 2:6–8The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Eccl 4:14For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
- Ps 113:6–8He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.
- Job 5:11–13He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.
- 1 Sam 2:4The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.
- Amos 9:11“In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
- Jas 1:9–10The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
- Job 34:24–28He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
- Mark 6:3Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
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 1:52 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.