Ephesians 4:9

Ephesians 4:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
• New International Version (NIV)(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
• English Standard Version (ESV)(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
• New King James Version (NKJV)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Context of Ephesians 4:9

7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice 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. 11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Ephesians 4:9 word by word

τὸ δὲ ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• he ascendedἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• is itεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• butμήmē · notG3361
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• heκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the lowerκατώτεροςkatōteros · lowerG2737
• partsμέροςmeros · partG3313
• of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:9

• Proverbs 30:4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!
• John 3:13No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
• John 6:33The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
• John 20:17“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
• Acts 2:34For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
• Genesis 11:5But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.
• Exodus 19:20The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.
• John 8:14Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.
• John 16:27for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.
• Psalms 8:5Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
• Psalms 63:9But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.
• Psalms 139:15You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
• Matthew 12:40For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
• Hebrews 2:7Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9But that he also descended - The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who ascended is the Messiah, and his ascension plainly intimates his descension; that is, his incarnation, humiliation, death, and resurrection.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Now that he ascended - That is, it is affirmed in the Psalm that he “ascended” - “Thou hast ascended on high.” This implies that there must have been a previous “descent;” or, as applicable to the Messiah, “it is a truth that he previously descended.” It is by no means certain that Paul meant to say that the “word” “ascended” demonstrated that there must have been a previous descent; but he probably means that in the case of Christ there was, “in fact,” a…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. 99. Paul reasons that (assuming Him to be God) His ascent implies a previous descent; and that the language of the Psalm can only refer to Christ, who first descended, then ascended. For God the Father does not ascend or descend. Yet the Psalm plainly refers to God (Ep 4:8, 17, 18). It must therefore be God the Son (Joh 6:33, 62). As He declares (Joh 3:13), "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven." Others, though they did not…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:9

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Forbear
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness
• Renew
• Steal
• Descend; Descent

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