New International Version
Ephesians 4:10
10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
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.)
- 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.)
- New Living Translation (NLT)And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Context of Ephesians 4:10
8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
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 exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
- Acts 1:9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
- 1 Timothy 3:16Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
- Hebrews 4:14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
- Hebrews 7:26Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
- Hebrews 8:1Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
- Hebrews 9:23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Ephesians 3:19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
- John 1:16Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
- Acts 2:33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
- Colossians 1:19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
- Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
- Matthew 24:34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
- Luke 24:44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
- John 19:24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.
- Acts 3:18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries