Ephesians 4:8

Ephesians 4:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
• New International Version (NIV)This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”

Context of Ephesians 4:8

6one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. 7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10And 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.

Ephesians 4:8 word by word

διὸ λέγει· ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• When he ascendedἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• upεἰςeis · towardG1519
• on highὕψοςhupsos · heightG5311
• he ledαἰχμαλωτεύωaichmalōteuō · to take captiveG162
• captivityαἰχμαλωσίαaichmalōsia · captivityG161
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• giftsδόμαdoma · giftG1390
• unto menὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• unto menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:8

• Psalms 68:18When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there.
• Judges 5:12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
• Colossians 2:15In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
• 1 Samuel 30:26When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends. “Here is a present for you, taken from the Lord’s enemies,” he said.
• Esther 2:18To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Wherefore he saith - The reference seems to be to Psalm 68:18, which, however it may speak of the removal of the tabernacle, appears to have been intended to point out the glorious ascension of Christ after his resurrection from the dead. The expositions of various commentators have made the place extremely difficult. I shall not trouble my reader with them; they may be seen in Rosenmuller. When he ascended up on high - The whole of this verse, as it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Wherefore he saith - The word “he” is not in the original; and it may mean “the Scripture saith,” or “God saith.” The “point” of the argument here is, that Christ, when he ascended to heaven, obtained certain “gifts” for people, and that those gifts are bestowed upon his people in accordance with this. To “prove” that, he adduces this passage from Psalm 68:18. Much perplexity has been felt in regard to the “principle” on which Paul quotes this Psalm, and…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. 8"He led captives away": This may refer to Christ’s victory over spiritual powers (see 1:21–22; Colossians 2:15). It may also refer to his capture of disobedient sinners, turning them into believers through the power of the good news. Christ gave gifts to his people (see Ephesians 4:11–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Wherefore--"For which reason," namely, in order to intimate that Christ, the Head of the Church, is the author of all these different gifts, and that giving of them is an act of His "grace" [Estius]. he saith--God, whose word the Scripture is (Psa 68:18). When he ascended--God is meant in the Psalm, represented by the ark, which was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David, after that "the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies"…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:8

• Captivity
• Gifts from God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prophecy
• Quotations and Allusions
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Gift
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Renew
• Steal

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