Ephesians 4:9

Ephesians 4:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
• New International Version (NIV)(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
• English Standard Version (ESV)(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
• New King James Version (NKJV)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Context of Ephesians 4:9

7But God has been kind to all of us. Each of us has received a special gift, just as Christ has decided to give us. 8This is what it says about him: ‘When he went up to the highest place, he led many prisoners with him. Then he gave gifts to his people.’ It says: ‘He went up.’ That must mean that Christ had also come down. He came down to a lower place, the earth. 10So the man who came down is also the man who went up, high above all the heavens. He did that so that he would fill everything everywhere. 11It was Christ who chose to give different gifts to his people. He chose some to be apostles. He chose some to speak messages from God. He chose some to tell God's good news to many people. He chose some to take care of his people, and to teach them.

Ephesians 4:9 word by word

τὸ δὲ ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• he ascendedἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• is itεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• butμήmē · notG3361
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• heκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the lowerκατώτεροςkatōteros · lowerG2737
• partsμέροςmeros · partG3313
• of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:9

• Proverbs 30:4No one has gone up to heaven and then come back. No one has held the wind in his hands. No one has tied his coat around the seas. No one has fixed the borders of the earth. If anyone has done this, tell me his name. Tell me his son's name. Tell me, if you know.
• John 3:13The Son of Man came down from heaven. Nobody else has gone up to heaven except him.
• John 6:33God's bread is the one who comes down from heaven. He is the one who gives life to people in the world.’
• John 20:17Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me because I have not gone up to the Father yet. But go to my brothers, the disciples. Tell them, “Now I will go up to my Father. He is also your Father. He is my God, and he is your God.” ’
• Acts 2:34King David himself did not go up into heaven like Jesus did. But David said: “The Lord God said to my Lord: Sit at my right side until I beat your enemies completely.
• Genesis 11:5But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower. He saw that the people had started to build them.
• Exodus 19:20The Lord came down onto the top of Sinai mountain. Then the Lord told Moses that he must come up to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain.
• John 8:14Jesus answered, ‘What I say is true. Even if I do speak about myself, my words are true. I know where I have come from. I also know where I will go. As for you, you do not know where I came from. You do not know where I will go.
• John 16:27I will not need to do that, because the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me, and you have believed that I came from God.
• Psalms 8:5You have made their place a little below God himself. You have given them honour, like kings.
• Psalms 63:9My enemies are trying to kill me, but I know that they themselves will die. They will go down into the deep hole of death.
• Psalms 139:15While you caused me to grow in a secret place, none of my body was hidden from you. You made me deep in the earth.
• Matthew 12:40Jonah stayed inside a big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will remain in the ground for three days and three nights.
• Hebrews 2:7For a short time, you made them less important than the angels But then you made them great and powerful, like kings.

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9But that he also descended - The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who ascended is the Messiah, and his ascension plainly intimates his descension; that is, his incarnation, humiliation, death, and resurrection.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Now that he ascended - That is, it is affirmed in the Psalm that he “ascended” - “Thou hast ascended on high.” This implies that there must have been a previous “descent;” or, as applicable to the Messiah, “it is a truth that he previously descended.” It is by no means certain that Paul meant to say that the “word” “ascended” demonstrated that there must have been a previous descent; but he probably means that in the case of Christ there was, “in fact,” a…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. 9-10to the lower parts of the earth: This phrase has been understood in several different ways by Bible scholars. Some people have thought this phrase refers to Jesus' tomb after his crucifixion. Others have suggested it means the world of the dead, the place where spirits go after death (compare Matthew 12:40; 1 Peter 3:18–20). Still others have connected it to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. However, the phrase most likely refers to the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Paul reasons that (assuming Him to be God) His ascent implies a previous descent; and that the language of the Psalm can only refer to Christ, who first descended, then ascended. For God the Father does not ascend or descend. Yet the Psalm plainly refers to God (Ep 4:8, 17, 18). It must therefore be God the Son (Joh 6:33, 62). As He declares (Joh 3:13), "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven." Others, though they did not…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:9

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Renew
• Steal
• Descend; Descent

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