Luke 1:49-50
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Mary declares God's name is "holy," which isn't just an abstract attribute, but a powerful descriptor of His character that underpins His mighty deeds. This "holy name" signifies His absolute purity and faithfulness, the very basis on which He acts with great power and mercy towards her.
Mary has just visited her relative Elizabeth, who is miraculously pregnant in her old age. After Elizabeth blesses Mary for her faith, Mary breaks out into a song of praise, recognizing the incredible circumstances God has brought about in her own life. This verse is the beginning of her exultant declaration, focusing on God's mighty power and holy character as the source of the great things happening to her.
Mary bursts into song, but her praise isn't just for her own good fortune. She starts by declaring who God is, even as she acknowledges her own lowly position. How does this contrast highlight God's amazing grace?
The Mighty One
Mary calls God 'the Mighty One' (Gibbor in Hebrew, El Shaddai in other contexts). This isn't just a polite title; it's a recognition of God's absolute power and sovereignty. He's the one capable of doing the 'great things' (gedoloth) she experiences.
The Lowly Handmaid
She immediately contrasts God's might with her own 'low estate' (tapeinosis). This doesn't mean she's just being modest; she's recognizing her humble, perhaps even insignificant, social standing. In the ancient world, status often dictated who God favored. Mary is saying God's favor transcends worldly status.
A Divine Reversal
By choosing a young, unmarried, and likely poor woman from a small town, God is demonstrating that His power operates independently of human might or social standing. He exalts the humble and confounds the proud, showing that His greatness is the source of all true blessing.
Mary doesn't just praise God's actions; she declares His name is holy. What does it mean for God's name to be 'holy,' and why is this declaration so crucial, especially when He's doing great things?
The Name Above All Names
When Mary says 'holy is his name,' she's not just referring to a title. In Scripture, God's 'name' represents His very being, His character, His reputation, and His actions. To declare His name 'holy' is to affirm that He is set apart, utterly pure, and distinct from all that is sinful or corrupt.
Holiness and Action
This declaration of holiness isn't separate from God's mighty deeds. Instead, it's the foundation. His actions are precisely because they flow from His inherently nature. His mercy and power are pure, just, and true.
Understand the original words
hagios · Greek Adjective
A divine attribute describing God’s transcendence, moral purity, and separation from all that is sinful, common, or profane.
eleos · Greek Noun
The compassionate, faithful, and loving-kindness of God, specifically His covenant loyalty that He extends to His people despite their unworthiness.
phobos · Greek Noun
A reverential awe, deep respect, and humble obedience toward God, characterized by an awareness of His holiness and majesty.
Mary's song echoes the history of God's mighty acts and faithfulness to Israel, from the covenant with Abraham to the present, extraordinary intervention of sending the Messiah.
c. 2nd millennium BC
God's Covenant with Abraham
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and blessings that would extend through generations.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God demonstrates His mighty power by delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through miraculous plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites and serving as a warning against disobedience.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile much of the remaining Jewish population, a period of profound national crisis.
c. 63 BC
This verse echoes Mary's declaration, emphasizing that God's name itself is inherently holy and worthy of reverence, reinforcing the profound respect Mary expresses.
Isaiah 49:26This passage shows God's mighty power acting on behalf of His people, paralleling Mary's awe at the 'great things' God has done for her, a seemingly ordinary person.
1 Samuel 2:2Hannah's prayer here mirrors Mary's sentiment of exultation in God's strength and uniqueness; both women recognize God's power as the source of their joy and blessings.
Exodus 20:7This commandment highlights the sacredness of God's name, underscoring Mary's profound reverence when she exclaims 'holy is his name' as a descriptor of God's very character.
Psalm 71:21This psalm speaks of God's increasing greatness and restoration, much like Mary's anticipation of the great work God is doing through her, which will lead to His glory.
barnesLuke 1:49: "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name."
He that is mighty - God. Hath done to me great things - Hath conferred on me great favors and distinguished mercies. And holy is his name - This is an expression of Mary's feelings, desiring to bestow on God all honor and praise. As the highest honor, she declared that his "name" was "holy" - that is, that God was free from sin, injustice, and impurity. The "name" of God is often put for God Himself. The prop…
jfbLuke 1:39-56: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;"
Lu 1:39-56. Visit of Mary to Elisabeth.39. hill country—the mountainous tract running along the middle of Judea, from north to south [Webster and Wilkinson].with haste—transported with the announcement to herself and with the tidings, now first made known to her, of Elisabeth's condition.a city of Juda—probably Hebron (see Jos 20:7; 21:11).
Mary declares God's name is "holy," which isn't just an abstract attribute, but a powerful descriptor of His character that underpins His mighty deeds. This "holy name" signifies His absolute purity and faithfulness, the very basis on which He acts with great power and mercy towards her.
Mary has just visited her relative Elizabeth, who is miraculously pregnant in her old age. After Elizabeth blesses Mary for her faith, Mary breaks out into a song of praise, recognizing the incredible circumstances God has brought about in her own life. This verse is the beginning of her exultant declaration, focusing on God's mighty power and holy character as the source of the great things happening to her.
Mary has just visited her relative Elizabeth, who is miraculously pregnant in her old age. After Elizabeth blesses Mary for her faith, Mary breaks out into a song of praise, recognizing the incredible circumstances God has brought about in her own life. This verse is the beginning of her exultant declaration, focusing on God's mighty power and holy character as the source of the great things happening to her.
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A Call to Reverence
Mary's words remind us that God's holiness demands reverence. His name is not to be used lightly. It's a call to awe and respect, recognizing that He is fundamentally different from us and deserving of our highest praise and devotion.
Roman Domination of Judea
Rome exerts increasing control over Judea, installing client kings and imposing its political authority, setting the stage for the world Mary lived in.
c. 1 BC - AD 1— this verse
The Annunciation and Mary's Visit to Elizabeth
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive the Son of God. Mary then visits her relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, fulfilling prophecies and inaugurating the new covenant, the ultimate demonstration of God's mighty power and mercy.
"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." — Mary declares God's name is "holy," which isn't just an abstract attribute, but a powerful descriptor of His character that underpins His mighty deeds. This "holy name" signifies His absolute purity…
