146 A few witnesses, especially Latin , (a b l* Irarm Orlat Nic) read “Elizabeth” here, since she was just speaking, but the evidence overwhelmingly supports “Mary” as the speaker.
147 The following passage has been typeset as poetry because many scholars regard this passage as poetic or hymnic. These terms are used broadly to refer to the genre of writing, not to the content. There are two broad criteria for determining if a passage is poetic or hymnic: “(a) stylistic: a certain rhythmical lilt when the passages are read aloud, the presence of parallelismus membrorum (i.e., an arrangement into couplets), the semblance of some metre, and the presence of rhetorical devices such as alliteration, chiasmus, and antithesis; and (b) linguistic: an unusual vocabulary, particularly the presence of theological terms, which is different from the surrounding context” (P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [], ). Classifying a passage as hymnic or poetic is important because understanding this genre can provide keys to interpretation. However, not all scholars agree that the above criteria are present in this passage, so the decision to typeset it as poetry should be viewed as a tentative decision about its genre.
148 Or “lifts up the Lord in praise.”
149 This psalm (vv. 46–55) is one of the few praise psalms in the NT. Mary praises God and then tells why both in terms of his care for her (vv. 46–49) and for others, including Israel (vv. 50–55). Its traditional name, the “Magnificat,” comes from the Latin for the phrase My soul magnifies the Lord at the hymn’s start.
150 Or “rejoices.” The translation renders this aorist, which stands in contrast to the previous line’s present tense, as ingressive, which highlights Mary’s joyous reaction to the announcement. A comprehensive aorist is also possible here.
151 See the note on the word “servant” in v. .
152 Grk “for behold.”
153 From now on is a favorite phrase of Luke’s, showing how God’s acts change things from this point on (5:10; 12:52; 22:18, 69; Acts 18:6).
154 Mary is seen here as an example of an object of God’s grace (blessed) for all generations.
155 Traditionally, “the Mighty One.”
156 Grk “and from.” Here καί (kai) has been translated by a semicolon to improve the English style.
157 God’s mercy refers to his “loyal love” or “steadfast love,” expressed in faithful actions, as the rest of the psalm illustrates.
158 That is, “who revere.” This refers to those who show God a reverential respect for his sovereignty.
159 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.
160 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.
161 Or “rulers.”
162 Or “those of humble position” 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).
163 Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.
164 Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20–26).
165 Or “because he remembered mercy,” understanding the infinitive as causal.
166 Or “his [God’s] loyal love.”
167 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.
168 Grk “fathers.”
169 Grk “his seed” (an idiom for offspring or descendants).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

And Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

because he has looked with favor

on the humble condition of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations

will call me blessed,

because the Mighty One

has done great things for me,

and his name is holy.

His mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear him.

He has done a mighty deed with his arm;

he has scattered the proud

because of the thoughts of their hearts;

he has toppled the mighty from their thrones

and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering his mercy

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he spoke to our ancestors.

NLTNew Living Translation

Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One is holy,

and he has done great things for me.

He shows mercy from generation to generation

to all who fear him.

His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

He has brought down princes from their thrones

and exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has helped his servant Israel

and remembered to be merciful.

For he made this promise to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his children forever.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,

and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Savior,

because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave,

for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed,

because the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for generation after generation

to those who fear him.

He has done a mighty deed with his arm;

he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled those who are hungry with good things,

and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.

He has helped Israel his servant,

remembering his mercy,

just as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:

For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;

And holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him

From generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm;

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats,

And exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;

And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel,

In remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers,

To Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Public Domain