Meaning of Scatters the Proud in Luke 1:51
Mary's Magnificat, recorded in Luke 1:46-55, includes the declaration that God "scatters the proud in the imagination of their hearts" [1]. This statement is part of a larger song of praise where Mary extols God's power and justice, particularly in overturning human hierarchies.
The immediate literary context is Mary's visit to Elizabeth, where both women, miraculously pregnant, acknowledge God's work in their lives. Mary's song, the Magnificat, echoes themes and phrases from Old Testament psalms and prophetic literature, particularly Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2 [3]. It serves as a theological commentary on the significance of Jesus's impending birth, portraying God as a mighty deliverer who acts decisively in history [3].
The phrase "He sheweth strength with his arme he scattereth them that are proude in the ymaginacion of their hertes" [1] highlights God's active intervention. The "mighty arm" is a personification of God's power, a common biblical motif found in passages like Psalm 98:1 and Isaiah 40:10 [3]. This imagery suggests a forceful and decisive action by God.
The term "proud" (Greek: hyperēphanous) refers to those who are arrogant or haughty. Augustine, in his homilies, connects pride with "audacity" and being "puffed up, as if swelled out with wind" [5]. He also notes that proud individuals often have "great spirits" [5]. John Gill describes pride as manifesting in a "high look, and a proud heart," where one looks down on others with disdain, often seen in self-righteous individuals [6]. Matthew Henry further elaborates that pride in the heart often expresses itself through "proud boasting, proud censuring, proud scorning, proud commanding" [9]. He also links pride to "proud wrath," making individuals easily angered by perceived slights [10]. Augustine also connects pride to the builders of the Tower of Babel, who, in their arrogance, sought to fortify themselves against God, leading to the confusion of languages [8].
The phrase "in the imagination of their hearts" points to the internal source of this pride. It's not just outward actions but the very thoughts and intentions that God opposes. This emphasizes that God's judgment penetrates to the core of human motivation.
The act of "scattering" (Greek: dieskorpisen) is a powerful image of divine judgment and dispersion. In the Old Testament, scattering is often associated with God's judgment on those who violate His covenant, as seen in Zechariah 7:14, where the scattering of the Hebrews among nations was a consequence of their unfaithfulness [4]. This imagery suggests a complete disarray and dispersal of those who oppose God in their pride. The parable of the sower, though using the same Greek root for "scattering" (skorpizō), refers to the farmer scattering seed, depicting varied responses to Jesus's ministry [2]. In Luke 1:51, however, the scattering is an act of judgment against the proud.
Mary's song thus presents a radical reversal of fortunes. God's power is not used to uphold the powerful and proud but to dismantle their self-exalting schemes. This theme is consistent with the broader message of Luke's Gospel, which often highlights God's concern for the humble and the marginalized, and his opposition to the arrogant and self-sufficient [7]. The Magnificat sets the stage for Jesus's ministry, which would continue to challenge human notions of power and status.
Sources
- Luke “Luke 1:51 (Tyndale) — He sheweth strength with his arme he scattereth them that are proude in the ymaginacion of their hertes.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 8:4: 8:4-15 The parable of the farmer scattering seed depicts people’s varied responses to Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming God’s Kingdom.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 1:51: 1:51 His mighty arm personifies God’s mighty power (see Ps 98:1; Isa 40:10).”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 7:14: 7:14 As with a whirlwind, I scattered them: The scattering of the Hebrews among the nations was one of the curses for violating the Mosaic covenant (Deut 28:36-37, 64). • The pleasant land was the land of God’s covenant promise (Ps 106:24; Jer 3:19). • Their land became . . . desolate through divine judgment on their covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry (Jer 12:10).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. I.--1. If any one will piously and soberly consider the sermon which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke on the mount, as we read it in the Gospel according to Matthew, I think that he will find in it, (part 2): spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, inasmuch as the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written, "Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest."(6) But, indeed, who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as if swelled out with wind? And hence also tha”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 21:4: An high look, and a proud heart,.... The former is a sign of the latter, and commonly go together, and are both abominable to the Lord; see Psa 101:5. A man that looks above others, and with disdain upon them, shows that pride reigns in him, and swells his mind with a vain opinion of himself; this may be observed in every self-righteous man; the parable of the Pharisee and publican is a comment upon it; sometimes there may be a proud heart under a disguise of humility; but the pride of the heart is often discovered by the look of the eyes. It may be rendered, "the e”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 20:21: 20:21 we know that you speak and teach what is right: This flattery was meant to throw Jesus off guard (see Pss 5:9; 12:2-3; 78:36; Prov 26:28; 28:23; 29:5; Ezek 12:24).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LV.[5] (part 10): proud men made after the deluge: what said the proud men? Lest we perish in a deluge, let us make a lofty tower.[1] In pride they were thinking themselves to be fortified, they builded up a lofty tower, and the Lord divided the tongues of them. Then they began not to understand one another; hence arose the beginning of many tongues. For before, one tongue there was: but one tongue for men agreeing was good, one tongue for humble men was good: but when that gathering together did into a union of pride fall headlong, God spa”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:3: See here, 1. A proud fool exposing himself. Where there is pride in the heart, and no wisdom in the head to suppress it, it commonly shows itself in the words: In the mouth there is pride, proud boasting, proud censuring, proud scorning, proud commanding and giving law; this is the rod, or branch, of pride; the word is used only here and Isa 11:1. It grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart; it is a rod from that stem. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch, or it is meant of a smiting beating rod, a rod of pride which stri”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 21:24: See here the mischief of pride and haughtiness. 1. It exposes men to sin; it makes them passionate, and kindles in them the fire of proud wrath. They are continually dealing in it, as if it were their trade to be angry, and they had nothing so much to do as to barter passions and exchange bitter words. Most of the wrath that inflames the spirits and societies of men is proud wrath. Men cannot bear the least slight, nor in any thing to be crossed or contradicted, but they are out of humour, nay, in a heat, immediately. It likewise makes them scornful when they a”