Lukas 1:51-53

1:51 He has demonstrated power ¹  with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance ²  of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the mighty ³  from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; ⁴ 

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, ⁵  and has sent the rich away empty. ⁶ 

[1:51]  ¹ 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.

[1:51]  ² 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.

[1:52]  ³ tn Or “rulers.”

[1:52]  ⁴ tn Or “those of humble position”

[1:52]  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).

[1:53]  ⁵ sn Good things refers not merely to material blessings, but blessings that come from knowing God.

[1:53]  ⁶ sn Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).