Amplified Bible
Philippians 2:7
7but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].
Philippians 2:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- New International Version (NIV)rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- English Standard Version (ESV)but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
- New King James Version (NKJV)but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Context of Philippians 2:7
5Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], 6who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. 8After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:7 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος, καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωποςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- madeκενόωkenoō · to emptyG2758
- himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- and took upon himλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- the formμορφήmorphē · formG3444
- of a servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- and was madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the likenessὁμοίωμαhomoiōma · likenessG3667
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
Cross-references for Philippians 2:7
- Psalms 22:6But I am [treated as] a worm [insignificant and powerless] and not a man; I am the scorn of men and despised by the people.
- Isaiah 49:7This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, Israel’s Holy One says, To the thoroughly despised One, To the One hated by the nation To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes shall also bow down, Because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
- Isaiah 50:5The Lord God has opened My ear, And I have not been rebellious Nor have I turned back.
- Isaiah 52:14Just as many were astonished and appalled at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form [marred] more than the sons of men.
- Isaiah 53:2For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would be attracted to Him.
- Daniel 9:26Then after the sixty-two weeks [of years] the Anointed One will be cut off [and denied His Messianic kingdom] and have nothing [and no one to defend Him], and the people of the [other] prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
- Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a donkey, Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Mark 9:12He answered them, “Elijah does come first and restores and reestablishes all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things [grief and physical distress] and be treated with contempt [utterly despised and rejected]?
- Romans 15:3For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], “The reproaches of those who reproached You (the Father) fell on Me (the Son).”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
- Hebrews 2:9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.
- Hebrews 12:2[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
- Hebrews 13:3Remember those who are in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [and subject to physical suffering].
- Isaiah 42:1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 49:3And [the Lord] said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.”
- Isaiah 52:13Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wisely and prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.
Commentaries on Philippians 2:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But made himself of no reputation - ̔ · He emptied himself - did not appear in his glory, for he assumed the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man. And his being made in the likeness of man, and assuming the form of a servant, was a proof that he had emptied himself - laid aside the effulgence of his glory.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7But made himself of no reputation - This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original According to this it would seem that he consented to be without distinction or honor among people; or that he was willing to be despised or disregarded. The Greek is ̔ ̓́ heauton ekenōsenThe word ́ kenoōmeans literally, to empty, “to make empty, to make vain or void.” It is rendered: “made void” in Romans 4:14; “made of none effect,” 1 Corinthians 1:17…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, Joh 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7he emptied himself: He gave up his divine privileges and chose to live as a human. The rest of verses 7–8 explains this ultimate act of godly self-giving love (compare 2 Corinthians 8:9). taking the form of a servant: Paul might have been thinking of Isaiah 52:13–53:12. being made in human likeness: Jesus became truly human while still being God (see John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. made himself of no reputation, and ... and--rather as the Greek, "emptied Himself, taking upon him the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men." The two latter clauses (there being no conjunctions, "and ... and," in the Greek) expresses in what Christ's "emptying of Himself" consists, namely, in "taking the form of a servant" (see on He 10:5; compare Ex 21:5, 6, and Psa 40:6, proving that it was at the time when He assumed a body, He took…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philippians 2
- 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
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