Bible Strands
Luke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Mary utters this declaration within the Magnificat, responding to her own pregnancy announcement and the preceding description of God's holy name and mighty acts.
The words — ἔλεος (eleos) translates literally as "mercy," while εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς renders "to generations and generations," marking an unbroken temporal span.
The thread — The phrasing parallels Psalm 103:17, which locates God's steadfast love on those who revere Him across time, and corresponds to Exodus 20:6, which explicitly ties that mercy to a thousand generations of covenant keepers.
Why it lands — The text states that divine mercy operates continuously across human history for reverent individuals; readers must therefore assess whether their own posture of reverence aligns with the scope of that prolonged divine commitment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Cross-references
- Psalms 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Exodus 20:6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- Genesis 17:7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Psalms 118:4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
- Psalms 145:19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
- Psalms 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
- Psalms 31:19 How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
- Psalms 115:13 He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.
- Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike!”