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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
• New King James Version (NKJV)but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Context of Philippians 2:7

5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which 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

• emptiedκενόωkenoō · to emptyG2758
• Himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• takingλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the formμορφήmorphē · formG3444
• bond-servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• beingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• in the likenessὁμοίωμαhomoiōma · likenessG3667
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Philippians 2:7

• Psalms 22:6But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.
• Isaiah 49:7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, 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 disobedient Nor did I turn back.
• Isaiah 52:14Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.
• Isaiah 53:2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
• Daniel 9:26Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
• Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
• Mark 9:12And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
• Romans 15:3For even 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 through His poverty might become rich.
• Hebrews 2:9But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
• Hebrews 12:2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Hebrews 13:3Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
• Isaiah 42:1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 49:3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.”
• Isaiah 52:13Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly 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