Philippians 3:21

Philippians 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
• New International Version (NIV)who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
• New King James Version (NKJV)who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Context of Philippians 3:21

19whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. 20But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.

Philippians 3:21 word by word

ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• shall changeμετασχηματίζωmetaschēmatizō · to transformG3345
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• vileὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• vileταπείνωσιςtapeinōsis · lowlinessG5014
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• may beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• fashioned like untoσύμμορφοςsummorphos · conformedG4832
• gloriousδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the workingἐνέργειαenergeia · active energyG1753
• is ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• to subdueὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• unto himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for Philippians 3:21

• 1 Corinthians 15:42So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal.
• Matthew 17:2And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.
• Colossians 3:4When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
• 1 John 3:2Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].
• Revelation 1:13and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest.
• Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death [and abolish it] for all time. And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, And He will take away the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.
• Isaiah 26:19Your dead will live; Their dead bodies will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy! For your dew is a dew of [celestial] light [heavenly, supernatural], And the earth will give birth to the spirits of the dead.
• Hosea 13:14Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead)? Shall I redeem them from death? O death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes [because of their failure to repent].
• Matthew 22:29But Jesus replied to them, “You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead].
• Matthew 28:18Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
• John 5:25I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a time is coming and is [here] now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live.
• John 11:24Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:25For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
• Ephesians 1:19and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength
• Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”
• Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away].

Commentaries on Philippians 3:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who shall change our vile body - ̔ ̔· Who will refashion, or alter the fashion and condition of, the body of our humiliation; this body that is dead - adjudged to death because of sin, and must be putrefied, dissolved, and decomposed. That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body - ͅ · That it may bear a similar form to the body of his glory. That is: the bodies of true believers shall be raised up at the great day in the same likeness…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Who shall change our vile body - compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:44); and it is doubtless accompanied with all the circumstances of splendor and glory which are appropriate to the Son of God. The idea here is, that it is the object of the desire and anticipation of the Christian, to be made just like Christ in all things. He desires to resemble him in moral character here, and to be like him in heaven. Nothing else will satisfy him but such…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body: When Jesus returns, he will transform believers' physical bodies. Instead of weak, aging bodies that die, they will have perfect, eternal bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:42–54; compare Romans 8:23). enables Him to subject all things to Himself: This means that Jesus will have complete authority over all things. Everything in creation will be subject to his rule (see 1 Corinthians 15:24–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Greek, "Who shall transfigure the body of our humiliation (namely, in which our humiliation has place, 2Co 4:10; Ep 2:19; 2Ti 2:12), that it may be conformed unto the body of His glory (namely, in which His glory is manifested), according to the effectual working whereby," &c. Not only shall He come as our "Saviour," but also as our Glorifier. even--not only to make the body like His own, but "to subdue all things," even death itself, as well as Satan…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:21

• Assurance
• Glory
• Jesus Continued
• Power
• Resurrection

In the dictionaries

• Adoption
• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain
• God
• Mean
• Press
• Resurrection of Christ

Commentaries on Philippians 3

• 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