Luke 1:46
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
The first line of Mary's hymn of praise, spoken in the home of Elisabeth after Elisabeth blessed Mary and the child she was carrying.
What Does Luke 1:46 Mean?
These words open Mary's song of praise, often called the Magnificat, in which she pours out worship to God. Having just been greeted by Elisabeth, who recognized the child Mary carried, Mary responds not with self-congratulation but with adoration directed entirely toward God. Her whole inner self -- her soul -- rises to exalt the Lord.
To "magnify" does not mean to make God greater than He is; nothing can add to His greatness. It means to declare His greatness, to enlarge our perception and praise of Him until He fills our vision. A magnifying glass does not increase the size of an object; it helps the eye see what was already there. So Mary's soul lifts up the Lord so that His goodness, power, and faithfulness are seen and celebrated. Her song borrows heavily from the prayer of Hannah (1 Samuel 2) and from the Psalms, showing a heart steeped in Scripture. What is striking is the source of her joy: not chiefly her own privilege, but who God is and what He is doing. True worship begins here -- when the soul turns from itself toward the greatness of God and finds its highest delight in declaring His worth.
In the Original Language
The verb megalynei means "magnifies, makes great, exalts." Paired with psyche (soul), it pictures the whole inner person lifting up the greatness of God.
Cross References
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
- 1 Samuel 2:1
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
- Psalms 34:3
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
- Psalms 103:1
Application
Let praise begin in the soul, turning your attention away from yourself toward the greatness of God until He fills your view.