What Does Luke 1:51 Mean in the King James?
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Pride is scattered inside the very thoughts where it keeps placing itself above others.
THE MEANING
God’s strength reaches the inner reasoning that makes pride feel secure and scatters its claims to superiority. The arm is power made active: the heart’s self-exalting plans cannot hold together before it.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that status or cleverness can make you untouchable does not hold; pride’s own inner certainty is where the scattering begins.
THE ROOT
ὑπερηφάνους
hyperēphanous
GROWS FROM
ὑπέρ (hyper, above) + φαίνω (phainō, appear or show)
To appear above, to show oneself as elevated.
“proud” in this verse is hyperēphanous. The word pictures people who present themselves as above others. Its φαίνω (phainō, appear or show) family also appears in Luke 1:79, where light comes to those sitting in darkness: self-exalting appearance is scattered, while light appears for the lowly.
ALSO GROWS
phainō: Appear or shine.
φαίνω
It supplies the ‘appear’ part of ὑπερήφανος (hyperēphanos, proud), showing pride as a posture of appearing elevated.
epiphainō: Appear upon or shine forth.
ἐπιφαίνω
This related word describes the light arriving in Luke 1:79, turning the proud person’s self-made elevation toward light given to those in darkness.
διανοίᾳ
dianoia
GROWS FROM
διά (dia, through) + νοῦς (nous, mind)
Thought, understanding, or intention, the activity of the mind.
“imagination” in this verse is dianoia. The scattering reaches inward, into the thoughts that shape the proud person’s sense of self. The verse joins mind and heart, placing the upheaval both in active reasoning and in the inner center from which it rises.
ALSO GROWS
noeō: Perceive or understand.
νοέω
This related word points to the mind’s act of forming an understanding, the inner activity where pride’s claims take shape.
noēma: Thought or design.
νόημα
This related word makes the inward plans concrete: the verse’s scattering reaches the designs held in the mind, not only outward behavior.
THE PATTERN
God’s strength disrupts self-exalting plans and exposes how little security they hold.
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.THE THREAD
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.Here the proud are ὑπερηφάνους (hyperēphanous, self-exalting), while the light in 1:79 is introduced with ἐπιφᾶναι (epiphanai, to appear upon). Their shared φαίνω (phainō, appear or show) family sharpens the contrast: self-made elevation is scattered, while light appears for those sitting in darkness.
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