God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 4:10
10The one who had gone down also went up above all the heavens so that he fills everything.
Ephesians 4:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
- New International Version (NIV)He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Context of Ephesians 4:10
8That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.” 9Now what does it mean that he went up except that he also had gone down to the lowest parts of the earth? The one who had gone down also went up above all the heavens so that he fills everything. 11He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟. 12Their purpose is to prepare God’s people to serve and to build up the body of Christ.
Read all of Ephesians 4Ephesians 4:10 word by word
ὁ καταβὰς αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- descendedκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- ascended upἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
- far aboveὑπεράνωhuperanō · aboveG5231
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- heavensοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- he might fillπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
Cross-references for Ephesians 4:10
- Ephesians 1:20He worked with that same power in Christ when he brought him back to life and gave him the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
- Acts 1:9After he had said this, he was taken to heaven. A cloud hid him so that they could no longer see him.
- 1 Timothy 3:16The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.
- Hebrews 4:14We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God.
- Hebrews 7:26We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
- Hebrews 8:1The main point we want to make is this: We do have this kind of chief priest. This chief priest holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne.
- Hebrews 9:23The copies of the things in heaven had to be cleansed by these sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed by better sacrifices.
- Ephesians 3:19You will know Christ’s love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
- John 1:16Each of us has received one gift after another because of all that the Word is.
- Acts 2:33God the Father used his power to give Jesus the honored position—the one next to him on the heavenly throne. Jesus has also received and has poured out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised, and this is what you’re seeing and hearing.
- Colossians 1:19God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ.
- Colossians 2:9All of God lives in Christ’s body,
- Matthew 24:34“I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place.
- Luke 24:44Then he said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses’ Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.”
- John 19:24The soldiers said to each other, “Let’s not rip it apart. Let’s throw dice to see who will get it.” In this way the Scripture came true: “They divided my clothes among themselves. They threw dice for my clothing.” So that’s what the soldiers did.
- Acts 3:18But in this way God made the sufferings of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets.
Commentaries on Ephesians 4:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10He that descended - And he who descended so low is the same who has ascended so high. He came to the lower parts of the earth - the very deepest abasement; having emptied himself; taken upon him; the form of a servant, and humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross; now he is ascended far above all heavens - higher than all height; he has a name above every name. Here his descending into the lower parts of the earth is put in opposition to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10He that descended is the same also that ascended - The same Redeemer came down from God, and returned to him. It was not a different being, but the same. Far above all heavens - see the notes on Ephesians 1:20-23; compare Hebrews 7:26. He is gone above the visible heavens, and has ascended into the highest abodes of bliss; see the notes on 2 Corinthians 12:2. That he might fill all things - Margin, “fulfil.” The meaning is, “that he might fill all things…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. 1010. all heavens--Greek, "all the heavens" (He 7:26; 4:14), Greek, "passed through the heavens" to the throne of God itself. might fill--In Greek, the action is continued to the present time, both "might" and "may fill," namely, with His divine presence and Spirit, not with His glorified body. "Christ, as God, is present everywhere; as glorified man, He can be present anywhere" [Ellicott].Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 4:10
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries