Philippians 3:21

Philippians 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
• New International Version (NIV)who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
• New King James Version (NKJV)who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Context of Philippians 3:21

19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Philippians 3:21 word by word

ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• shall changeμετασχηματίζωmetaschēmatizō · to transformG3345
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• vileὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• vileταπείνωσιςtapeinōsis · lowlinessG5014
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• may beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• fashioned like untoσύμμορφοςsummorphos · conformedG4832
• gloriousδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• according toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the workingἐνέργειαenergeia · active energyG1753
• is ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• to subdueὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• unto himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for Philippians 3:21

• 1 Corinthians 15:42It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
• Matthew 17:2As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.
• Colossians 3:4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
• 1 John 3:2Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
• Revelation 1:13And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.
• Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!
• Isaiah 26:19But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead!
• Hosea 13:14“Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! For I will not take pity on them.
• Matthew 22:29Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.
• Matthew 28:18Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
• John 5:25“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
• John 11:24“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:25For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.
• Ephesians 1:19I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
• Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
• Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.

Commentaries on Philippians 3:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who shall change our vile body - ̔ ̔· Who will refashion, or alter the fashion and condition of, the body of our humiliation; this body that is dead - adjudged to death because of sin, and must be putrefied, dissolved, and decomposed. That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body - ͅ · That it may bear a similar form to the body of his glory. That is: the bodies of true believers shall be raised up at the great day in the same likeness…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Who shall change our vile body - compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:44); and it is doubtless accompanied with all the circumstances of splendor and glory which are appropriate to the Son of God. The idea here is, that it is the object of the desire and anticipation of the Christian, to be made just like Christ in all things. He desires to resemble him in moral character here, and to be like him in heaven. Nothing else will satisfy him but such…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 This simple dependence and earnestness of soul, were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize, or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. He forgot the things which were behind, so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace. He reached forth, stretched himself forward towards his point; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. He who runs a race, must never…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body: When Jesus returns, he will transform believers' physical bodies. Instead of weak, aging bodies that die, they will have perfect, eternal bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:42–54; compare Romans 8:23). enables Him to subject all things to Himself: This means that Jesus will have complete authority over all things. Everything in creation will be subject to his rule (see 1 Corinthians 15:24–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Greek, "Who shall transfigure the body of our humiliation (namely, in which our humiliation has place, 2Co 4:10; Ep 2:19; 2Ti 2:12), that it may be conformed unto the body of His glory (namely, in which His glory is manifested), according to the effectual working whereby," &c. Not only shall He come as our "Saviour," but also as our Glorifier. even--not only to make the body like His own, but "to subdue all things," even death itself, as well as Satan…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 3:21

• Assurance
• Glory
• Jesus Continued
• Power
• Resurrection

In the dictionaries

• Adoption
• Belly
• Concision
• Count
• Earthly
• Gain
• God
• Mean
• Press
• Resurrection of Christ

Commentaries on Philippians 3

• 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