Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:55
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.
As he spake to our fathers … – That is, He has dealt mercifully with the children of Israel, according as He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The promise particularly here referred to is that respecting the Messiah which was now about to be fulfilled; but there is no doubt that there was also included the promises respecting all the other mercies which had been conferred on the children of Israel. See Gen 22:17-18.
Forever – These words are to be referred to the preceding verse – in remembrance of His mercy forever, as he spake, etc. They denote that the mercy of God manifested to His people should be had in everlasting remembrance.
There is a striking similarity between this song of praise by Mary and that spoken by Hannah, 1Sa 2:2-10. There are few pieces of poetry – for this is poetry, and almost the only poetry in the New Testament – more beautiful than this. It is the language of a humble, thankful, pious, female heart praising God:
- For his mercy to her, Luk 1:46-49;
- For his mercy to all people – his general goodness, Luk 1:50-53; and,
- His special goodness to his people, Luk 1:54-55.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
55. As he spake to our fathersThesense requires this clause to be read as a parenthesis. (CompareMic 7:20; Psa 98:3).
for everthe perpetuityof Messiah’s kingdom, as expressly promised by the angel (Lu1:33).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As he spake to our fathers,…. To David, of whose family Mary was; and to Jacob, or Israel, of whose stock she was; and to Isaac, in whom the seed was to be, called; and particularly,
to Abraham and to his seed for ever: not his natural, but his spiritual seed; both among Jews and Gentiles, to the end of the world; to these God promised this mercy of a Saviour and Redeemer, and to these he performs it, and will to all generations.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “As he spake to our fathers,” (kathos elalesen pros tous pateras hemon) “Just as he spoke to our fathers,” to our Hebrew patriarch’s of faith, who were:
2) “To Abraham, and to his seed for ever.” (to Abraam kai to spermati autou eis ton aiona) “To Abraham and to his seed forever,” without end, cessation, or termination, Gen 17:19; Gal 3:16; Mic 7:20. The promise of Divine faithfulness had been holding for more than 2,000 years, Luk 1:70-73, and is on hold still.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
55. To Abraham and to his seed If you read these words in close connection with the close of the former verse, there appears to be an improper change of the case. Instead of τῶ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ τῶ σπέρματι, it ought to have been ( πρὸς) τὸν ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ τὸ σπέρμα, , as he spake TO our fathers, TO Abraham and TO his seed (63) But, in my opinion, there is no such close connection. Mary does not merely explain who the Fathers were to whom God spake, but extends the power and result of the promises to all his posterity, provided they are the true seed of Abraham. Hence it follows, that the matter now in hand is, the solemn covenant which had been made, in a peculiar manner, with Abraham and his descendants. For other promises, which had been given to Adam, and Noah, and others, referred indiscriminately to all nations. As many of the children of Abraham, according to the flesh, have been cut off by their unbelief, and have been thrown out as degenerate from the family of Abraham, so we, who were strangers, are admitted to it by faith, and regarded as the true seed of Abraham. Let us therefore hold that, in consequence of God having formerly spoken to the fathers, the grace offered to them belongs equally to their posterity; and also, that the adoption has been extended to all nations, so that those, who were not by nature children of Abraham, may be his spiritual seed
(63) Without attempting to make clear to the English reader the nature of this difficulty, which a Greek scholar will readily enough comprehend, it may suffice to say that the words, as he spake to our fathers, should be read as a parenthesis, and the words now under consideration will then be connected in the following manner: So as to be mindful (or, in remembrance) of his mercy to Abraham, and to his seed, for ever. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(55) As he spake to our fathers.As the sentence stands in English, the words Abraham and his seed seem in apposition with forefathers, and to be added as explaining it. In the Greek, however, they are in a different connection, and belong to what had gone before, the construction being as follows: To remember His mercy (as He spake unto our forefathers) to Abraham and his seed for ever. The mercy that had been shown to Abraham was, as it were, working even yet.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
55. To Abraham The promise was that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. Gen 12:3; Gen 22:18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Ver. 55. As he spake to our fathers ] Who lived upon reversions, and died upon the promises, accounting them good freehold. God keeps promise with nights and days,Jer 33:20Jer 33:20 ; Jer 33:25 . How much more will he with Abraham, and his seed for ever!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
As = according as.
our fathers. Compare Mic 7:20. Gal 1:3, Gal 1:16. Act 2:39.
for ever = unto the age. See App-151. a.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 1:55. , He spake) with an oath, especially to David.– , our father-even to all ages) Mary comprises the past and future.-) Construe thus,- [not – ]. Mic 7:20, LXX. () , , .[14] Psa 98:3, . Also Psa 119:49.-, even to) Construe with , to his seed.[15]
[14] The Vatican LXX. reads , etc.- . Engl. Vers. from Hebrew, Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.-ED. and TRANSL.
[15] ABD omit . C supports it, as also A in the Psalms, bc Vulg. in scula.-ED. and TRANSL.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Gen 12:3, Gen 17:19, Gen 22:18, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:14, Psa 105:6-10, Psa 132:11-17, Rom 11:28, Rom 11:29, Gal 3:16, Gal 3:17
Reciprocal: Gen 17:7 – And I Gen 17:21 – my Exo 32:13 – Remember Deu 7:8 – oath Deu 7:12 – Lord Deu 9:5 – that he may 2Sa 7:21 – thy word’s 1Ki 8:15 – hath 1Ki 8:56 – there 2Ki 13:23 – because of his covenant 2Ch 6:14 – mercy Psa 61:7 – prepare Psa 85:10 – Mercy Psa 98:3 – remembered Psa 105:42 – For he Psa 117:2 – General Isa 63:11 – he remembered Hos 3:1 – according Mic 7:20 – General Luk 1:72 – perform Joh 1:17 – grace Act 5:30 – God Act 13:32 – how Rom 9:4 – promises Gal 3:18 – but Heb 1:1 – the fathers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Abraham was the father of the Jewish race, and God had promised him an heir who should bless the world, which Mary was recalling to mind.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 1:55. As he spake unto our fathers. This is parenthetical, for the original plainly shows that to Abraham and his seed, should be joined to the word mercy, at the close of Luk 1:54. Yet Gods remembrance of His mercy is connected with His truthfulness to His promise. The promise: In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Gen 22:18), indicates the universal character of Gods mercy.
For ever. This also should be connected with mercy. God has helped Israel in order to remember His mercy forever.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
1:55 As he {c} spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
(c) Promised.