Philippians 4:11

Philippians 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
• New International Version (NIV)I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Context of Philippians 4:11

9Practice what you’ve learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you. 10The Lord has filled me with joy because you again showed interest in me. You were interested but did not have an opportunity to show it. I’m not saying this because I’m in any need. I’ve learned to be content in whatever situation I’m in. 12I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. 13I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11 word by word

οὐχ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑστέρησιν λέγω· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• in respect ofκατάkata · according toG2596
• wantὑστέρησιςhusterēsis · povertyG5304
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• have learnedμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• whatsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• contentαὐτάρκηςautarkēs · self-sufficientG842

Cross-references for Philippians 4:11

• 1 Corinthians 4:11To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless.
• 2 Corinthians 6:10People think we are sad although we’re always glad, that we’re beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty.
• 2 Corinthians 11:27Because I’ve had to work so hard, I’ve often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather.
• Philippians 3:8It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ
• Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,
• Exodus 2:21Moses decided to stay with the man. So Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife.
• Matthew 6:31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’
• Luke 3:14Some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He told them, “Be satisfied with your pay, and never use threats or blackmail to get money from anyone.”
• 1 Timothy 6:6A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.
• Hebrews 10:34You suffered with prisoners. You were cheerful even though your possessions were stolen, since you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.
• Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.”

Commentaries on Philippians 4:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Not that I speak in respect of want - I am quite unconcerned in this respect; leaving the whole of my support, while bound for the testimony of Jesus, to the providence of God. For I have learned - I am so satisfied with the wise providence and goodness of God, that I know whatever he determines is the best; and therefore I am perfectly contented that he should govern the world in that way which seems best to his godly wisdom. How true is the proverb, A…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Not that I speak in respect of want - Though Paul was doubtless often in circumstances of necessity, yet he did not make these remarks on that account. In his journeys, in his imprisonments, he could not but be at times in want; but be had learned to bear all this; and that which most impressed itself on his mind was the interest which the church ought to show in the cause of religion, and the evidence which it would thus furnish of attachment to the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-19Verses 10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12As a servant of Christ, Paul has learned to be content with every situation, whether he had plenty or little. His life was filled with the joy that comes from doing the will of God whatever the cost.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. I have learned--The I in Greek is emphatical. I leave it to others if they will, to be discontented. I, for my part, have learned, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the dealings of Providence (He 5:8), to be content in every state. content--The Greek, literally expresses "independent of others, and having sufficiency in one's self." But Christianity has raised the term above the haughty self-sufficiency of the heathen Stoic to the contentment of…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 4:11

• Beneficence
• Church
• Contentment
• Minister, Christian
• Philippi
• Resignation
• Righteousness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Communicate
• Crown
• Epaphroditus
• Humility
• Need
• Request
• Therewith
• Macedonia
• Money
• Philippians, the Epistle to the

Commentaries on Philippians 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