Magnificat

The title given to Lk 1:46-55, Mary's Song:

'My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸for he has been mindful of
the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations
will call me blessed,
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things
for me—holy is his name.
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds
with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud
in their inmost thoughts.
⁵²He has brought down rulers
from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants for ever,
just as he promised our ancestors.'

The name comes from the Latin for "magnify," the first verb in the song (NIB has "glorifies" instead).

Though a deeply personal song, it is imbued with powerful theology affirming what God was doing in the midst of the times in which Mary and the Jews were living, and predicting the reversals of fate that would result from what God is doing through her appointment as the bearer of the Messiah. By incorporating the song here in his prologue to his Gospel, Luke prepares the reader for the rest of his work. Listen (or listen) to Joel B. Green's short exposition of the Magnificat in his introduction to Luke at Fuller Studio (there are two versions, 5.24 mins & 10.03 mins; select one).

Read the entry in:

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia