Mariam or Elizabeth?

The Psalm in Luke 1:46–55 is called The Magnificat. This title comes from the opening lines of verse 45 in the Latin Bible, the Vulgate: et ait Maria magnificat anima mea Dominum (“And Mary said, ‘Magnifies soul of mine the Lord’”). In Greek, the verb is megalino, which can refer to anything long (e.g., the long robes of the Pharisees, Matt 23:5), wide (e.g., the sphere of influence, 2 Cor 10:15), or highly exalted (e.g., God or Christ).

Although we attribute this Psalm to Mariam/Mary, early Latin manuscripts and church fathers, including Irenaeus (AD 130–202) and Origin (AD 185–253), attributed this Psalm to Elizabeth. One reason is her statement, “He paid careful attention to the humiliation of his slave and all generations will call me ‘the blessed’” (v. 48). Before Gabriel’s visit, Elizabeth would have faced more humiliation for her barrenness than Mariam for her virginity to say those words. Mariam would have faced humiliation after Gabriel’s visit and her unmarried pregnancy. Yet, the words “slave” and “blessed” usually referred to Mariam/Mary than Elizabeth.

Either of these ladies could have sung this Psalm, and the meaning would have been the same. Perhaps, one composed and the other sang, or both composed and sang together. The author of the Psalm isn’t as important as the content: God’s everlasting mercies to Israel and those who fear him.

My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. (1:46–47)

Because,

He paid careful attention to the humiliation of his slave, Behold, from now on, all generations will call me “the blessed.” (1:48)

The Mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. His mercy is from generation to generation to those who fear him. (1:49–50)

Because,

The Powerful has stretched his arm, and scattered the proudful in the thoughts of their hearts, overthrown the powerful from their thrones, and exalted the humble. (1:51–52)

He filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty-handed. (1:53)

He has gathered Israel – his children – remembering to be merciful forever to Abraham and his descendants, as he promised our ancestors. (1:54–55)

The Psalm begins with a declaration of praise (1:46–47). Then, the singer gives the first reason for her thankfulness – God had paid careful attention to her humility and helped her (1:48–50). Finally, the singer praises God for his everlasting justice and mercy to Israel and those who fear him (1:51–55). The first section has one stanza, the second has two stanzas, and the third has three stanzas. Many of them are also in Hebrew poetical parallelism. For example,

My soul magnifies the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

This is called a synonym parallelism, where the first and second lines convey the same idea but with different words. The soul forms a parallel to the spirit; magnifies forms a parallel to rejoices; and Lord forms a parallel to God, my Savior.

When Lord God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, and they crossed the Red/Reed Sea, Mariam – Moses’s sister – became a prophetess and sang a song of deliverance:

Sing to the Lord because he is glorious and exalted.

Horses and drivers – He threw them into the sea. (Exod 15:20–21).

Similarly, Mariam/Mary (or Elizabeth) sang a Psalm declaring God’s mercy, justice, and deliverance as soon as Gabriel left.

God continues to show us his mercy, grace, and love daily. So, we sing – counting our blessings and naming them individually. His loving kindness and goodness endure forever!