Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:50
And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.
50. his mercy ] Psa 89:2-3 and passim.
From generation to generation ] Rather, Unto generations and generations; ledr vadr, Gen 17:9, &c. See Deu 7:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
His mercy – Favor shown to the miserable and the guilty.
Is on them – Is shown or manifested to them.
That fear him – That reverence or honor Him. One kind of fear is that which a servant has of a cruel master, or which a man has of a precipice, the plague, or death. This is not the fear which we ought to have toward God. It is the fear which a dutiful child has of a kind and virtuous father a fear of injuring his feelings; of dishonoring him by our life; of doing anything which he would disapprove. It is on those who have such fear of God that his mercy descends. This is the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom, Psa 111:10; Job 28:28.From generation to generation – From one age to another – that is, it is unceasing; it continues and abounds. But it means also more than this. It means that Gods mercy will descend on the children and childrens children of those that fear him and keep his commandments, Exo 20:6. In this respect it is an unspeakable privilege to be descended from pious parents; to have been the subject of their prayers, and to have received their blessing. It is also a matter of vast guilt not to copy their example and to walk in their steps. If God is disposed to show mercy to thousands of generations, how heavy will be the condemnation if the children of pious parents do not avail themselves of it and early seek his favor!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 50. His mercy is on them that fear him] His exuberant kindness manifests itself in acts of mercy to all those who fear or reverence his name; and this is continued from generation to generation, because he is abundant in goodness, and because he delighteth in mercy. This is a noble, becoming, and just character of the God of the Christians; a being who delights in the salvation and happiness of all his creatures, because his name is mercy, and his nature love.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Having celebrated God for his glory and majesty, she here celebrates him for his mercy, which extends to all, but especially is showed to such as fear him. She certainly respecteth the promise of God to be the God of Abraham and this seed, but declareth this to be most eminently made good to those who are truly pious, all piety being expressed ordinarily in Scripture (especially in the Old Testament) under the notion of the fear of God. We have almost the same words Psa 103:17. It is elsewhere expressed under the notion of thousands, Exo 20:6, signifying not only the extent of the Divine goodness to all his people, but the continuance of it for ever.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And his mercy is on them that fear him,…. Not with slavish fear of hell and damnation, but with reverence and godly fear; with a filial fear, with a reverential love of God, and affection for him; with that fear which springs from the goodness of God, which has that for its object, and is encouraged by it: and though this fear is not the cause and reason of the mercy of God, yet is descriptive of the persons towards whom it is exercised in various ways, and to whom it is openly shown; they hereby appearing to be the vessels of mercy, afore prepared to glory; and in whose redemption, mercy and truth have met together, and who, according to the abundant mercy of God the Father, have been begotten again; whose unrighteousnesses he has been merciful to, and whose sins he will remember no more: and it may have a particular regard to the incarnation of Christ, which in this chapter is said to be in remembrance of mercy; to be the mercy promised, and to come through the tender mercy of our God, Lu 1:54. And which was a mercy Mary considered, not as peculiar to herself, but as extended to all that fear the Lord; not in that age only, but from
generation to generation; to the end of the world, to God’s elect in all times and places, who should all be partakers of it, and sharers in it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fear (). Dative of the present middle participle. Here it is reverential fear as in Acts 10:2; Col 3:22. The bad sense of dread appears in Matt 21:46; Mark 6:20; Luke 12:4.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Mercy [] . The word emphasizes the misery with which grace (see on verse 30) deals; hence, peculiarly the sense of human wretchedness coupled with the impulse to relieve it, which issues in gracious ministry. Bengel remarks, “Grace takes away the fault, mercy the misery.”
From generation to generation [ ] . Lit., as Rev., unto generations and generations.
Fear [] . The word is used in both a good and a bad sense in the New Testament. For the latter, see Mt 21:46; Mr 6:20; Mr 11:32; Luk 12:4. For the former, as here, in the sense of godly reverence, Act 10:2, 22, 35; Col 3:22; Rev 14:7; Rev 14:4.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And his mercy,” (kai to eleos autou) “And his mercy,” as reflected in His actions, Gen 17:7-8; La 3:22, 23; because of which men are “not consumed every day.”
2) “Is on them that fear him,” (tois phoboumenois auton) “Continues to those continually fearing him,” or respecting Him, giving Him reverence, Exo 20:6; Psa 85:9; Psa 118:4; Psa 145:19; Psa 147:11.
3) “From generation to generation.” (eis geneas kai geneas) “Into generations and generations,” as He promised it would be, Gen 17:7-8; Exo 20:6; Psa 103:17, even today, to reward such as receive, honor, and serve Him, Mal 3:16-17; Rev 19:5-9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(50) His mercy is on them that fear him.The words, as read by those for whom St. Luke wrote, would seem almost to foreshadow the Gospel of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Those that feared God were to be found not only among the children of Abraham, but also among every nation (Act. 10:2; Act. 10:35), and He would shew forth His mercy to all in whom that temper should be found.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
II. Recognition that God ever exalts the lowly.
50-53. From her own case, Mary now generalizes that thus does God ever deal; debasing the proud, exalting the humble. The past tense of the verbs here is intended to express past, present, and future. Paganism, now reigning supreme in the Roman empire, is destined to give way before the religion of the despised cross. In two or three passing centuries the power of the son of this Nazarene maiden will subdue the Roman empire, and the throne of Augustus shall be inherited by his worshippers. So does God put down the mighty from their seats, and exalt them of low degree.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Luk 1:50. His mercy is on them that fear him “So great is the goodness of God, that he rewards the piety of his servants upon their posterity to the thousandth generation.” Exo 20:6. By making this observation, the virgin modestly insinuated, that she imputed the great honour that was done her, not to any piety of her own, but to the piety of her ancestors, Abraham and David, which God thus rewarded upon their latest posterity.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Ver. 50. From generation to generation ] Personal goodness is profitable to posterity.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
mercy = pity. Greek. eleos. See verses: Luk 1:54, Luk 1:58, Luk 1:72, Luk 54:78. Not the same word as in Luk 1:30.
fear = reverence.
from generation, &c. = unto (Greek. eis. App-104.) generations of generations.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 1:50. , to the generations) Although the promise may seem to be long retarded, yet it is fulfilled, and that too, to everlasting. It is the same generations which call Mary blessed, Luk 1:48.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Gen 17:7, Exo 20:6, Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7, Psa 31:19, Psa 85:9, Psa 103:11, Psa 103:17, Psa 103:18, Psa 115:13, Psa 118:4, Psa 145:19, Psa 147:11, Mal 3:16-18, Rev 19:5
Reciprocal: Gen 43:14 – And God Exo 1:20 – God Deu 4:10 – fear me 2Ki 17:39 – the Lord 1Ch 16:41 – to give 2Ch 6:14 – mercy 2Ch 7:3 – For he is Ezr 3:11 – because Psa 22:23 – Ye that Psa 25:6 – for they Psa 89:2 – Mercy Psa 100:5 – his mercy Psa 107:1 – for his mercy Psa 112:1 – Blessed Psa 128:1 – every one Psa 136:1 – for his mercy Ecc 7:18 – for Ecc 8:12 – surely Ecc 12:13 – for Isa 51:8 – my righteousness Lam 3:22 – because Hab 3:6 – his Mal 4:2 – that fear Act 13:16 – and ye Tit 3:5 – according Jam 5:11 – the Lord is Rev 11:18 – and them
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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The mercy will endure continuously to all who fear Him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 1:50. This verse forms two lines of the second stanza.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear him.
Unto generations and generations. This implies forever, but the prominent thought is the continuance of Gods mercy.
On them that fear him. The Old Testament description of the pious.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
1:50 And his mercy [is] on them {s} that fear him from generation to generation.
(s) To those that live godly and religiously, as the Hebrews say.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
God’s mercy (Gr. eleos) balances His power and holiness (Psa 103:17; cf. Mat 23:23). The Greek word eleos translates the Hebrew hesed, meaning "loyal love," in the Septuagint. His mercy refers to His compassion, specifically on those with whom He has entered into covenant relationship. Those who fear God reverence and trust Him.