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 also was in Messiah Yeshua, 6Who, though existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself— taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man. 8He humbled Himself— becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• madeκενόωkenoō · to emptyG2758
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• and took upon himλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the formμορφήmorphē · formG3444
• of a servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• and was madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the likenessὁμοίωμαhomoiōma · likenessG3667
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Philippians 2:7

• Psalms 22:6They cried to you and were delivered. In You they trusted, and were not disappointed.
• Isaiah 49:7Thus says Adonai, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to the One despised, to the One the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and arise, princes will also bow down, because of Adonai who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
• Isaiah 50:5Adonai Elohim has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn back.
• Isaiah 52:14Just as many were appalled at You— His appearance was disfigured more than any man, His form more than the sons of men.
• Isaiah 53:2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, nor beauty that we should desire Him.
• Daniel 9:26Then after the 62 weeks Mashiach will be cut off and have nothing. Then the people of a prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. But his end will come like a flood. Until the end of the war that is decreed there will be destruction.
• Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you, a righteous one bringing salvation. He is lowly, riding on a donkey— on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
• Mark 9:12Now He told them, “Indeed Elijah comes first; he restores all things. And how is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be treated with contempt?
• Romans 15:3For even Messiah did not please Himself, but as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted You have fallen on Me.”
• 2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah—that even though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.
• Hebrews 2:9But we see One who was made for a little while lower than the angels—namely, Yeshua. He is now crowned with glory and honor, because of the death He suffered so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone.
• Hebrews 12:2focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Hebrews 13:3Remember the prisoners as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you also were suffering bodily.
• Isaiah 42:1Behold My servant, whom I uphold. My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Ruach on Him, He will bring justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 49:3He said to Me, “You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
• Isaiah 52:13“Behold, 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