Luke 1:50-55

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 1:50 tn Grk “and from.” Here καί (kai) has been translated by a semicolon to improve the English style.
2. Luke 1:50 sn God’s mercy refers to his “loyal love” or “steadfast love,” expressed in faithful actions, as the rest of the psalm illustrates.
3. Luke 1:50 tn That is, “who revere.” This refers to those who show God a reverential respect for his sovereignty.
4. Luke 1:51 tn Or “shown strength,” “performed powerful deeds.” The verbs here switch to aorist tense through 1:55. This is how God will act in general for his people as they look to his ultimate deliverance.
5. Luke 1:51 tn Grk “in the imaginations of their hearts.” The psalm rebukes the arrogance of the proud, who think that power is their sovereign right. Here διανοίᾳ (dianoia) can be understood as a dative of sphere or reference/respect.
6. Luke 1:52 tn Or “rulers.”
7. Luke 1:52 tn Or “those of humble position”sn The contrast between the mighty and those of lowly position is fundamental for Luke. God cares for those that the powerful ignore (Luke 4:18-19).
8. Luke 1:53 sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.
9. Luke 1:53 sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).
10. Luke 1:54 tn Or “because he remembered mercy,” understanding the infinitive as causal.
11. Luke 1:54 tn Or “his [God’s] loyal love.”
12. Luke 1:55 tn Grk “as he spoke.” Since this is a reference to the covenant to Abraham, ἐλάλησεν (elalēsen) can be translated in context “as he promised.” God keeps his word.
13. Luke 1:55 tn Grk “fathers.”
14. Luke 1:55 tn Grk “his seed” (an idiom for offspring or descendants).