Luke 1 · Verse 46

Luke 1:46

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 1:46, King James Version

Luke 1:46 in other translations

BSBThen Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
WEBMary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
ASVAnd Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
YLTAnd Mary said, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord,
DARBYAnd Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,
BBEAnd Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;
WebsterAnd Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

What does Luke 1:46 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 1:46-55
46-55. A magnificent canticle, in which the strain of Hannah's ancient song, in like circumstances, is caught up, and just slightly modified and sublimed. Is it unnatural to suppose that the spirit of the blessed Virgin had been drawn beforehand into mysterious sympathy with the ideas and the tone of this hymn, so that when the life and fire of inspiration penetrated her whole soul it spontaneously swept the chorus of this song, enriching the Hymnal of the Church with that spirit-stirring canticle which has resounded ever since from its temple walls? In both songs, those holy women, filled with wonder to behold "the proud, the mighty, the rich," passed by, and, in their persons the lowliest chosen to usher in the greatest events, sing of this as no capricious movement, but a great law of the kingdom of God, by which He delights to "put down the mighty from their seats and exalt them of low degree." In both songs the strain dies away on Christ; in Hannah's under the name of "Jehovah's King"--to whom, through all His line, from David onwards to Himself, He will "give strength"; His "Anointed," whose horn He will exalt (1Sa 2:10); in the Virgin's song, it is as the "Help" promised to Israel by all the prophets. My soul ... my spirit--"all that is within me" (Psa 103:1).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 46. (r) My soul doth magnify the Lord. To magnify means to make great, and then to extol, to praise, to celebrate. It does not mean here strictly to make great, but to increase in our estimation --that is, to praise or extol. See Ps 34:3; 2Sam 7:26.

(r) 1Sam 2:1, Ps 34:2,3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 46 And Mary said - Two copies of the Itala, and some books mentioned by Origen, give this song to Elisabeth. It is a counterpart of the song of Hannah, as related in 1Sam 2:1-10. This is allowed by many to be the first piece of poetry in the New Testament; but the address of the angel to Zacharias, Luk 1:13-17, is delivered in the same way; so is that to the virgin, Luk 1:30-33, and so also is Elisabeth's answer to Mary, Luk 1:42-45. All these portions are easily reducible to the hemistich form in which the Hebrew poetry of the Old Testament is found in many MSS., and in which Dr. Kennicott has arranged the Psalms, and other poetical parts of the Sacred Writings. See his Hebrew Bible. My soul doth magnify the Lord - The verb μεγαλυνειν, Kypke has proved, signifies to celebrate with words, to extol with praises. This is the only way in which God can be magnified, or made great; for, strictly speaking, nothing can be added to God, for he is infinite and eternal; therefore the way to magnify him is to show forth and celebrate those acts in which he has manifested his greatness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:39-56

It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:39-56 →

Luke 1:46 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
Μαριάμ·MariamMary:G3137
μεγαλύνειmegaluneiMagnifiesG3170
ἡhētheG3588
ψυχήpsuchēsoulG5590
μουmouof MineG3165
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριον,kurionLord,G2962

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:46

  • 1 Samuel 2:1-10

    And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. …

  • Psalms 34:2-3

    My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

  • Psalms 35:9

    And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

  • Isaiah 61:10

    I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

  • Psalms 103:1-2

    A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

  • Romans 5:11

    And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:31

    That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

  • Isaiah 45:25

    In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:14

    Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

  • Philippians 4:4

    Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

  • Isaiah 24:15-16

    Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

    Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 2:1; Ps 34:2,3; 35:9; 103:1,2; Isa 24:15,16; 45:25; 61:10
Hab 3:17,18; Ro 5:11; 1Co 1:31; 2Co 2:14; Php 3:3; 4:4; 1Pe 1:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:45

    And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

  • Luke 1:46

    And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

  • Luke 1:47

    And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:46 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces María dijo: engrandece mi alma al Señor;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Marie dit: Mon âme magnifie le ✶Seigneur,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Maria sprach: Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait Maria: Magnificat anima mea Dominum: