Bible Strands
Luke 1:55
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Mary speaks these words in the context of praising God for helping Israel, immediately following her declaration that He remembered to be merciful. The words — καθὼς (kathōs) translates literally as "even as," and ἐλάλησεν (elalēsen) means "He spoke," anchoring the statement in direct divine communication. The thread — The verse traces God’s covenantal promise through Genesis 17:19, where God assures Abraham of a son, Psalms 105:6, which addresses Abraham’s offspring, and Psalms 132:11, which records an unrevoked oath regarding David’s throne. Why it lands — The text states that God’s help to Israel fulfills a promise made to Abraham and his descendants forever, which requires the reader to acknowledge the unbroken line of that covenant.
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
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Cross-references
- Genesis 17:19 But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
- Psalms 105:6 O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
- Psalms 132:11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne.
- Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Genesis 22:18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
- Genesis 26:4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,
- Romans 11:28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
- Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
- Genesis 28:14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.