Then Mary said:This phrase introduces the Magnificat, a song of praise spoken by Mary. It is a response to Elizabeth's blessing and the realization of her role in God's plan. The Magnificat is similar to the song of Hannah in
1 Samuel 2:1-10, showing a deep connection to the Old Testament tradition of women expressing joy and gratitude for God's intervention.
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
Mary's use of "soul" indicates her innermost being, reflecting a deep, personal worship. To "magnify" the Lord means to exalt or glorify Him, acknowledging His greatness and sovereignty. This phrase sets the tone for the entire song, emphasizing humility and reverence. It echoesPsalm 34:3, where believers are called to magnify the Lord together, highlighting a communal aspect of worship. Mary's declaration is prophetic, as it anticipates the coming of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MaryA young Jewish woman from Nazareth, chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. Her response to the angel Gabriel's announcement is a profound expression of faith and humility.
2.
NazarethA small town in Galilee where Mary lived. It is significant as the humble origin of Jesus' earthly family.
3.
The MagnificatThis is the name given to Mary's song of praise, which begins with
Luke 1:46. It is a powerful declaration of God's greatness and faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Heart of WorshipMary's declaration, "My soul magnifies the Lord," teaches us that true worship begins in the soul. It is an internal acknowledgment of God's greatness that overflows into our words and actions.
Humility and ExaltationMary's humble status did not prevent her from being used by God in a mighty way. This reminds us that God often chooses the lowly and humble to fulfill His purposes.
Joy in God's PromisesMary's song is filled with joy and confidence in God's promises. As believers, we are called to find joy in the assurance of God's faithfulness and His plans for us.
Personal ReflectionJust as Mary magnified the Lord, we are encouraged to reflect on how our lives can exalt God. This involves aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with His will.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Luke 1:46?
2.How does Mary's praise in Luke 1:46 inspire your personal worship practices?
3.What does "my soul magnifies the Lord" reveal about Mary's relationship with God?
4.How can you emulate Mary's humility and faith in your daily life?
5.What Old Testament passages connect with Mary's expression of praise in Luke 1:46?
6.How can you incorporate Mary's attitude of gratitude into your prayer routine?
7.What does Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1:46 reveal about her understanding of God's nature?
8.How does Luke 1:46 reflect the theme of humility in the Bible?
9.Why is Mary's song in Luke 1:46 significant in Christian theology?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 1?
11.How does Mary express her joy and gratitude to God?
12.What divine joy and wisdom do the Odes reveal?
13.How did Mary of Bethany show devotion to Jesus?
14.What is the Annunciation?What Does Luke 1:46 Mean
Then Mary said• Mary’s words rise in direct response to Elizabeth’s Spirit-filled greeting (Luke 1:41-45), showing a heart already tuned to God’s voice.
• She speaks after faithfully accepting God’s plan for her life inLuke 1:38, revealing that obedience naturally flows into worship.
• Like Hannah’s praise after Samuel’s birth (1 Samuel 2:1-2), Mary gives voice to God’s work before it is fully seen, underscoring confident faith in His promises (Luke 1:30-33).
My soul• “Soul” points to the deepest part of Mary’s being; her worship is not surface-level but springs from her innermost self (Psalm 103:1).
• She demonstrates the greatest commandment—loving God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5;Mark 12:30).
• By highlighting her “soul,” Mary reminds us that genuine praise is personal and wholehearted, not merely spoken words (Psalm 42:1-2).
magnifies• To “magnify” means to make much of God, enlarging His greatness in our perception even though He is already infinite (Psalm 34:3).
• Mary doesn’t magnify her own role; she magnifies the One who chose her (John 3:30).
• True worship shifts attention from self to God, exposing pride and fostering humility (James 4:10).
the Lord• The focus is squarely on “the Lord,” Israel’s covenant-keeping God who fulfills ancient promises (Genesis 17:7;Luke 1:54-55).
• Mary’s praise anticipates the salvation her child will bring; she calls Him “Lord” here and “God my Savior” in the next verse (Luke 1:47;Isaiah 45:21).
• By using God’s covenant name, she connects her song to generations of believers who trusted the same faithful Lord (Psalm 100:3;Exodus 15:2).
summaryMary’s first sentence in the Magnificat is a model of heartfelt worship. Out of a surrendered life she lifts her entire inner being to exalt the covenant God who keeps His promises. Her example invites us to let every part of who we are magnify the Lord, spotlighting His greatness rather than our own and trusting Him to accomplish all He has declared.
(46)
My soul doth magnify the Lord.--We come to the first of the great canticles recorded by St. Luke, which, since the time of Caesarius of Arles (A.D. 540), who first introduced them into public worship, have formed part of the hymnal treasures of Western Christendom. We may think of the Virgin as having committed to writing at the time, or having remembered afterwards, possibly with some natural modifications, what she then spoke. Here the song of praise is manifestly based upon that of Hannah (
1Samuel 2:1-10), both in its opening words and in much of its substance, and is so far significant of the hopes, and, if we may so speak, studies, of the maiden of Nazareth.
Verse 46-56. -
The hymn of Mary, commonly called the Magnificat.
Verse 46a. -
And Mary said. There is a great contrast between the behavior of the two women when they met in Elisabeth's house. The elder was full of a new strange ecstatic joy. "She was filled with the Holy Ghost" (verse 42), and spoke her words of lofty congratulation with "a loud voice" (verse 42). Mary, on the other hand, was not conscious evidently, on this occasion, of any special presence of the Holy Spirit. Since the hour of the annunciation and her own meek faithful acceptance of the Lord's purpose, she had been dwelling, so to speak, under the immediate influence of the Spirit of the Lord. Her cousin's inspiration seems to have been momentary and transitory, while hers, during that strange blessed season which immediately preceded the Incarnation, was enduring. Hence the quiet introduction to her hymn, "And Mary said." It is, of course, possible that she had committed the beautiful thoughts to writing; but perhaps, in giving them to Luke or Paul, she needed no parchment scroll, but softly repeated to the chronicler of the Divine story the old song in which she had first told her deep imaginings to Elisabeth, and afterwards often had murmur the same bright words of joy and faith over the holy Babe as he lay in his cradle at Bethlehem, in Egypt, or in Nazareth. The "Virgin's Hymn" for nearly fourteen centuries has been used in the public liturgies of Christendom. We find it first in the ethics of Lauds in the Rule of St. Caesarius of Aries (A.D. 507).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
ThenΚαὶ(Kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.MaryΜαριάμ(Mariam)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3137:Or Mariam of Hebrew origin; Maria or Mariam, the name of six Christian females.said:εἶπεν(eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“Myμου(mou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.soulψυχή(psychē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590:From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.magnifiesΜεγαλύνει(Megalynei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3170:(a) I enlarge, lengthen, (b) I increase, magnify, extol. From megas; to make great, i.e. Increase or extol.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Lord,Κύριον(Kyrion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962:Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.
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NT Gospels: Luke 1:46 Mary said My soul magnifies the Lord (Luke Lu Lk) 
