Mary's Magnificat

Illustration of Mary's Magnificat

When Mary visited Elizabeth, she broke into a song of praise that has been sung by the church ever since. 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,' she began, rejoicing in God her Savior and marveling that he had regarded her lowly estate. Echoing Hannah's song, the Magnificat celebrates the God who scatters the proud, exalts the humble, and fills the hungry with good things - the great reversal of the kingdom.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Luke 1

Key Passages

My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord

Luke 1:46-55

Mary magnifies the God who exalts the humble and fills the hungry - the great reversal of the kingdom.

A46nd Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

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Characters

Mary (Mother of Jesus) Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, was chosen by God to conceive and bear his Son Jesus through the powerโ€ฆ Elizabeth Elizabeth was the wife of the priest Zechariah and a relative of Mary, recognized in Scripture as aโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

'Magnificat' is Latin for its first words: 'My soul doth magnify the Lord.'

2

Mary sang it while visiting her relative Elizabeth.

3

It deeply echoes Hannah's song from 1 Samuel.

4

The church has sung it in evening prayer for over 1,500 years.