King James Bible
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,"
This introduces Mary's response to Elizabeth's blessing, marking the beginning of the Magnificat—one of Christianity's earliest hymns. The simple attribution emphasizes that these profound words of praise come from a young, humble woman chosen for an extraordinary role. Mary declares that her innermost being exalts and enlarges God's glory, not in the sense of making God greater, but in making His greatness more visible through her praise. The verb 'magnify' (Greek: megalunei) suggests both worship and proclamation, establishing the jubilant tone for her entire song.