Ephesians 4:9

Amplified Bible

(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
When it says, "He went up," what does it mean? It means that he first came down low to earth.

Revised Standard Version
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
That he ascended: what meaneth it but that he also descended fyrst into the lowest parties of the erth?

Hebrew Names Version
Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the eretz?

New American Standard Bible
(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

New Century Version
When it says, "He went up," what does it mean? It means that he first came down to the earth.

Update Bible Version
(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Webster's Bible Translation
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

English Standard Version
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

World English Bible
Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
(Now that he ascended, what is it, but that he also descended first to the lower parts of the earth?

Weymouth's New Testament
(Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But what is it, that he stiede vp, no but that also he cam doun first in to the lowere partis of the erthe?

English Revised Version
(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Berean Standard Bible
What does "He ascended" mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?

Contemporary English Version
When it says, "he went up," it means that Christ had been deep in the earth.

American Standard Version
(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Bible in Basic English
(Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth?

Complete Jewish Bible
Now this phrase, " he went up ," what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth?

Darby Translation
But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

International Standard Version
Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gonehad first gone">[fn] down into the lower parts of the earth?parts, that">[fn]John 3:13;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But he who ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the low places of the earth ?

Murdock Translation
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also previously descended to the interior [fn] of the earth?

King James Version (1611)
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that hee also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

New Living Translation
Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

New Life Bible
When they say, "He went up," what does it mean but that He had first gone down to the deep parts of the earth?

New Revised Standard
(When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Geneva Bible (1587)
(Nowe, in that hee ascended, what is it but that he had also descended first into the lowest partes of the earth?

George Lamsa Translation
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the inner parts of the earth?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now this, He ascended; what is it, - save - that he also descended into the under parts of the earth?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
(But that he ascended, what is it? but that he also descended first into the lower partes of the earth?

Good News Translation
Now, what does "he went up" mean? It means that first he came down to the lowest depths of the earth.

Christian Standard Bible®
But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth?

King James Version
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Lexham English Bible
Now "he ascended," what is it, except that he also descended to the lower regions of the earth?

Literal Translation
But that He went up, what is it except that He also first came down into the lower parts of the earth?

Young's Literal Translation
and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
That he wente, vp what is it, but that he first came downe in to ye lowest partes of ye earth?

Mace New Testament (1729)
now his having ascended, what does it mean, but that he had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

New English Translation
Now what is the meaning of " he ascended ," except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?

New King James Version
(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first [fn] descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Simplified Cowboy Version
Notice that it says, "he scaled." Well, you can't scale a mountain if you don't start at the bottom. That means God came down to our sorry world.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Legacy Standard Bible
(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Contextual Overview

²with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. ³Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. ⁴There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all. ⁷Yet grace [God's undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and abundant] gift. ⁸Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND HE BESTOWED GIFTS ON MEN." ⁹(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth?¹⁰He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). ¹¹And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he ascended: Proverbs 30:4, John 3:13, John 6:33, John 6:62, John 20:17, Acts 2:34-36

he also: Genesis 11:5, Exodus 19:20, John 6:33, John 6:38, John 6:41, John 6:51, John 6:58, John 8:14, John 16:27, John 16:28

the lower: Psalms 8:5, Psalms 63:9, Psalms 139:15, Matthew 12:40, Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9

Reciprocal: Psalms 71:20 - shalt bring 1 Corinthians 15:47 - the Lord Philippians 2:10 - under Philippians 2:29 - with

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the LORD had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering;

Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he [lied and] said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:11
"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:13
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Genesis 4:14
"Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Your face (presence) I will be hidden, and I will be a fugitive and an [aimless] vagabond on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

Genesis 37:32
and they brought the multicolored tunic to their father, saying, "We have found this; please examine it and decide whether or not it is your son's tunic."

Psalms 9:12
For He who avenges blood [unjustly shed] remembers them (His people); He does not forget the cry of the afflicted and abused.

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.

John 8:44
"You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now that he ascended,.... These words are a conclusion of Christ's descent from heaven, from his ascension thither; for had he not first descended from thence, it could not have been said of him that he ascended; for no man hath ascended to heaven but he that came down from heaven, John 3:13 and they are also an explanation of the sense of the psalmist in the above citation, which takes in his humiliation as well as his exaltation; which humiliation is signified by his descent into the earth:

what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? this the Papists understand of his decent into a place they call Limbus Patrum, which they make to be contiguous to hell; and where they say the patriarchs were detained till Christ's coming; and that he went thither to deliver them out of it; and that these are the captivity he led captive; all which is fictitious and fabulous: for certain it is, that the place where Abraham was with Lazarus in his bosom was not near to hell, but afar off, and that there was a great gulf between them, Luke 16:23 and the spirits or souls of the patriarchs returned to God that gave them, when separated from their bodies, as the souls of men do now, Ecclesiastes 12:7 nor did Christ enter any such feigned place at his death, but went to paradise, where the penitent thief was that day with him; nor were the patriarchs, but the principalities and powers Christ spoiled, the captivity he led captive and triumphed over: some interpret this of Christ's descent into hell, which must be understood not locally, but of his enduring the wrath of God for sin, which was equivalent to the torments of hell, and of his being in the state of the dead; but it may rather design the whole of his humiliation, as his descent from heaven and incarnation in the virgin's womb, where his human nature was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth; and his humbling himself and becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, when he was made sin and a curse for his people, and bore all the punishment due to their transgressions; and his being in Hades, in the state of the dead, in the grave, in the heart of the earth, as Jonah in the whale's belly: reference seems to be had to Psalms 139:15 where "the lower parts of the earth", is interpreted by the Targum on the place of כריסא דאמא, "his mother's womb"; and so it is by Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melec. The Alexandrian copy and the Ethiopic version leave out the word "first" in this clause.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now 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 descent into the lower parts of the earth first. The language used here will appropriately express his descent to earth.

Into the lower parts of the earth - To the lowest state of humiliation. This seems to be the fair meaning of the words. Heaven stands opposed to earth. One is above; the other is beneath. From the one Christ descended to the other; and he came not only to the earth, but he stooped to the most humble condition of humanity here; see Philippians 2:6-8; compare notes on Isaiah 44:23. Some have understood this of the grave; others of the region of departed spirits; but these interpretations do not seem to be necessary. It is the “earth itself” that stands in contrast with the heavens; and the idea is, that the Redeemer descended from his lofty eminence in heaven, and became a man of humble rank and condition; compare Psalms 139:15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. But 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.