Luke 1:51-63
Showed strength ( εποιησεν κρατος ). "Made might" (Wycliff). A Hebrew conception as in Ps 118:15. Plummer notes six aorist indicatives in this sentence (51-63), neither corresponding to our English idiom, which translates here by "hath" each time.Imagination ( διανοια ). Intellectual insight, moral understanding.
Princes ( δυναστας ). Our word dynasty is from this word. It comes from δυναμα, to be able.
Hath holpen ( αντελαβετο ). Second aorist middle indicative. A very common verb. It means to lay hold of with a view to help or succour.
Servant ( παιδος ). Here it means "servant," not "son" or "child," its usual meaning.
Had magnified ( εμεγαλυνεν ). Aorist active indicative. Same verb as in verse 46.
Rejoiced with her ( συνεχαιρον αυτη ). Imperfect tense and pictures the continual joy of the neighbours, accented also by συν- (cf. Php 2:18) in its mutual aspect.
Would have called ( εκαλουν ). Conative imperfect, tried to call.
Made signs ( ενενευον ). Imperfect tense, repeated action as usual when making signs. In 1:22 the verb used of Zacharias is διανευων.
What he would have him called ( το τ αν θελο καλεισθα αυτο ). Note article το with the indirect question, accusative of general reference. The optative with αν is here because it was used in the direct question (cf. Ac 17:18), and is simply retained in the indirect.
What would he wish him to be called? ( if he could speak), a conclusion of the fourth-class condition.
Tablet ( πινακιδιον ). Diminutive of πινακις. In Aristotle and the papyri for writing tablet, probably covered with wax. Sometimes it was a little table, like Shakespeare's "the table of my memory" (Hamlet, i.5). It was used also of a physician's note-book.
Wrote, saying ( εγραψεν λεγων ). Hebrew way of speaking (2Ki 10:6).
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