THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 1 - Verse 49

Verse 49. He that is {v} mighty. God.

Hath done to me {w} great things. Hath conferred on me great favours and distinguished mercies.

And holy {x} is his name. This is an expression of Mary's feelings, desiring to bestow on God all honour and praise. As the highest honour, she declared that his name was holy -- that is, that God was free from sin, injustice, and impurity. The "name" of God is often put for God himself. The proper name of God is Jehovah, a word expressive of his essential being, derived from the word to be, Ex 3:14; Ex 6:3; Psalms 83:18.

That name is holy; is to be regarded as holy; and to make a common or profane use of it is solemnly forbidden, Ex 20:7.

{v} Ge 17:1 {w} Psalms 71:21; 126:2,3; Ephesians 3:20

{x} Psalms 111:9