Luke 1:58
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.
Webster's Revision
And her neighbors and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
World English Bible
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.
Clarke's Luke 1:58 Bible Commentary
And her neighbors and her cousins - rejoiced with her. - Because sterility was a reproach; and they now rejoiced with their relative, from whom that reproach was now rolled away. To rejoice with those whom God has favored, and to congratulate them on the advantages which he has granted to them, is a duty which humanity, charity, and religion call upon us to fulfill.
1. It is a duty of humanity, which should be punctually performed. We are all members of each other, and should rejoice in the welfare of the whole. He who rejoices in his neighbor's prosperity increases his neighbor's happiness, and gets an addition to his own.
2. It is a duty which charity or brotherly love requires us to perform with sincerity. In the polite world, there is no duty better fulfilled in word than this is; but sincerity is utterly banished, and the giver and receiver are both convinced that compliments and good wishes mean - nothing. He who does not endeavor to take a sincere part in his neighbor's prosperity will soon feel ample punishment in the spirit of jealousy and envy.
3. It is a duty of religion, which should be fulfilled with piety. These neighbors and relatives saw that God had magnified his mercy towards Elisabeth, and they acknowledged his hand in the work. God is the dispenser of all good - he distributes his favors in mercy, judgment, and justice. Let us honor him in his gifts; and honor those, for his sake, who are objects of his favor. The society of believers are but one body; the talents, etc., of every individual are profitable to the whole community; at least none ate deprived of a share in the general welfare, but those who, through jealousy or envy, refuse to rejoice with him towards whom God hath magnified his mercy.