Greek word · G3170

μεγαλύνω

megalynō

to magnify

To make large, enlarge, lengthen; figuratively, to make great, extol, magnify, praise.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μεγαλύνω

(μέγας) [in LXX chiefly for גָּדַל pi., hi. ;]

1. to make great: Matthew 23:5, Luke 1:58.

2. to declare great, extol, magnify: Luke 1:46, Acts 5:13 10:46 19:17, 2 Corinthians 10:15; pass., before ἐν, Philippians 1:20.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 23:5

Range of meaning

To make large, enlarge, lengthen; figuratively, to make great, extol, magnify, praise.

Against the English

'Lengthen' (BSB, NASB) and 'enlarge' (KJV, WEB) are right here. No English rendering can keep the double meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for praising God in the Septuagint Psalms (e.g. Ps 34:3 [LXX 33:4], 'magnify the Lord with me') and in Luke 1:46 ('My soul magnifies the Lord'), Luke 1:58, Acts 10:46, 19:17. It is used literally of making something bigger, as here.

From the study of Acts 5:13

Range of meaning

"To make large, enlarge" (Matt 23:5, phylacteries), and from there "to magnify" someone in speech: praise, extol, speak highly of, hold in high esteem. It is used of praising God and also of honouring people.

Against the English

KJV and YLT "magnified" was accurate in 1611, when "magnify" commonly meant "to praise, glorify". Today it suggests a magnifying glass. BSB "regarded them highly", WEB "honored" and ESV/NASB "held them in high esteem" all convey the sense. "Held in esteem" can sound like a private opinion, while the Greek suggests praise spoken out loud.

How it drifted

The English verb "magnify" gradually narrowed toward the optical and physical sense ("make look bigger") after the spread of lenses and microscopes. Its older meaning, "praise, glorify", survives mainly in liturgy (the Magnificat).

Used elsewhere in the period

Mary: "My soul magnifies the Lord" (Luke 1:46). In Luke 1:58 the Lord "magnified his mercy". In Acts 10:46 the Gentiles were "extolling God", and in Acts 19:17 "the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified" after another frightening display of power, a close parallel to this verse. In the Septuagint Psalms it is a standard word for praising God (e.g. Ps 34:3 [33:4 LXX]).

From the study of Acts 19:17

Range of meaning

To make large, to enlarge (Matthew 23:5, enlarging tassels). More often it means to make great by speaking: to extol, praise, or declare great. In the passive it means to be held in honour, to be highly regarded.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'magnified' meant 'extolled' in 1611. Today it suggests a magnifying glass, making something look bigger than it is. BSB/NIV 'held in high honor' gets the sense but loses the praise. ESV 'extolled' is the closest modern match.

How it drifted

From Latin magnificare, 'to make great, to praise'. English 'magnify' gradually came to mean optical enlargement, and the 'praise' sense survives now mainly in church language (as in the Magnificat).

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 1:46, 'My soul magnifies the Lord'. Luke 1:58, the Lord 'magnified his mercy'. Acts 5:13, the people 'held them in high esteem'. Acts 10:46, Gentiles 'magnifying God'. Greek Old Testament Psalm 34:3 (33:4), 'Magnify the Lord with me'. Philippians 1:20.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 23:5 μεγαλύνουσιν enlarge

    All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

    Here: Here it simply means 'make big, lengthen'. Elsewhere in the NT the same verb means to magnify or praise God (Luke 1:46, Acts 10:46). Greek-speaking hearers may have caught the irony: they make their tassels great.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:46 μεγαλύνει Magnifies

    Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

    Here: “Declares great, praises the greatness of.” The present tense describes ongoing action: her praise is continuing, not a single outburst. The verb comes first in the Greek for emphasis. It answers v. 49: because the Mighty One has done “great things” (megala) for her, she calls him great.

  2. Luke 1:58 ἐμεγάλυνεν magnified

    Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

    Here: 'Made great': the Lord made his kindness large and plain for all to see. It echoes Mary's 'My soul magnifies (megalynei) the Lord' (1:46). Mary makes God great with praise; here God makes his own kindness great in action.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 5:13 ἐμεγάλυνεν were magnifying

    Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

    Here: "Kept speaking highly of" or "held in great honour". The imperfect again describes ongoing public praise, the kind that builds a group's reputation in an honour-based society.

  2. Acts 10:46 μεγαλυνόντων magnifying

    For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

    Here: Literally 'making great', in the sense of declaring God great: loud, joyful praise of his mighty acts. It is the word of Mary's song, 'My soul magnifies the Lord' (Luke 1:46).

  3. Acts 19:17 ἐμεγαλύνετο was being magnified

    This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

    Here: 'Was being made great': people kept speaking of the name as great and kept praising it. The tense describes something ongoing, not a single moment.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:15 μεγαλυνθῆναι to be enlarged

    Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 1:20 μεγαλυνθήσεται will be magnified

    I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

    Here: A future passive: 'will be made great,' meaning Christ will be shown as great and praised openly. Paul switches subject here. He does not say 'I will magnify Christ' but 'Christ will be magnified,' which leaves the result in God's hands.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.