Ephesians 4:8

Ephesians 4:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
• New International Version (NIV)This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

Context of Ephesians 4:8

6one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all. 7Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And He bestowed gifts on men.” 9(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]).

Ephesians 4:8 word by word

διὸ λέγει· ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• When he ascendedἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• upεἰςeis · towardG1519
• on highὕψοςhupsos · heightG5311
• he ledαἰχμαλωτεύωaichmalōteuō · to take captiveG162
• captivityαἰχμαλωσίαaichmalōsia · captivityG161
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• giftsδόμαdoma · giftG1390
• unto menὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• unto menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:8

• Psalms 68:18You have ascended on high, You have led away captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there.
• Judges 5:12“Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.
• Colossians 2:15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, “Here is a blessing (gift) for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord:
• Esther 2:18Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and his servants; and he made a festival for the provinces and gave gifts in accordance with the resources of the king.

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Wherefore he saith - The reference seems to be to Psalm 68:18, which, however it may speak of the removal of the tabernacle, appears to have been intended to point out the glorious ascension of Christ after his resurrection from the dead. The expositions of various commentators have made the place extremely difficult. I shall not trouble my reader with them; they may be seen in Rosenmuller. When he ascended up on high - The whole of this verse, as it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Wherefore he saith - The word “he” is not in the original; and it may mean “the Scripture saith,” or “God saith.” The “point” of the argument here is, that Christ, when he ascended to heaven, obtained certain “gifts” for people, and that those gifts are bestowed upon his people in accordance with this. To “prove” that, he adduces this passage from Psalm 68:18. Much perplexity has been felt in regard to the “principle” on which Paul quotes this Psalm, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8"He led captives away": This may refer to Christ’s victory over spiritual powers (see 1:21–22; Colossians 2:15). It may also refer to his capture of disobedient sinners, turning them into believers through the power of the good news. Christ gave gifts to his people (see Ephesians 4:11–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Wherefore--"For which reason," namely, in order to intimate that Christ, the Head of the Church, is the author of all these different gifts, and that giving of them is an act of His "grace" [Estius]. he saith--God, whose word the Scripture is (Psa 68:18). When he ascended--God is meant in the Psalm, represented by the ark, which was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David, after that "the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies"…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:8

• Captivity
• Gifts from God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prophecy
• Quotations and Allusions
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Gift
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Renew
• Steal

Commentaries on Ephesians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings