Philippians 2:7

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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

Context of Philippians 2:7

5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

Philippians 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 a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
• Isaiah 49:7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; 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 was not rebellious; I turned not backward.
• Isaiah 52:14As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
• Isaiah 53:2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
• Daniel 9:26And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
• Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
• Mark 9:12And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
• Romans 15:3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
• 2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
• Hebrews 2:9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
• Hebrews 12:2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Hebrews 13:3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
• Isaiah 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 49:3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
• Isaiah 52:13Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be 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

• Commandments
• Example
• Humility
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Apostle
• Companion
• Covenant
• Disputing
• Humility
• Kingly office of Christ
• Lowliness
• Nigh
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Presently

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