Philippians 2:8

Amplified Bible

After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.

Revised Standard Version
And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and was founde in his aparell as a man. He humbled him silfe and became obediet vnto ye deeth even the deeth of the crosse.

Hebrew Names Version
And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

New American Standard Bible
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.

New Century Version
And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.

Update Bible Version
and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] to death, yes, the death of the cross.

Webster's Bible Translation
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

English Standard Version
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

World English Bible
And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

Weymouth's New Testament
And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He mekide hym silf, and was maad obedient to the deth, yhe, to the deth of the cross.

English Revised Version
and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

Berean Standard Bible
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross.

Contemporary English Version
Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross.

American Standard Version
and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

Bible in Basic English
And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross.

Complete Jewish Bible
he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death — death on a stake as a criminal!

Darby Translation
and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross.

International Standard Version
And lived in all humility,Matthew 26:39,42; John 10:18; Hebrews 5:8; 12:2;">[xr] Death on a cross obeying.

Etheridge Translation
and in fashion was found as a man, and humbled himself, and was obedient unto death, but the death of the cross.

Murdock Translation
and he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

King James Version (1611)
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto death, euen the death of the Crosse.

New Living Translation
he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.

New Life Bible
After He became a man, He gave up His important place and obeyed by dying on a cross.

New Revised Standard
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

Geneva Bible (1587)
He humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen the death of the Crosse.

George Lamsa Translation
And, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, in fashion, being found, as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient as far as death, yea, death upon a cross.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He humbled hym selfe, made obedient vnto death, euen the death of the crosse.

Good News Translation
He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death— his death on the cross.

Christian Standard Bible®
he humbled himself by becoming obedientto the point of death—even to death on a cross.

King James Version
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Lexham English Bible
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, that is, death on a cross.

Literal Translation
and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, having become obedient until death, even the death of a cross.

Young's Literal Translation
and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death -- death even of a cross,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and was founde in his apparell as a man: he humbled himselfe, and became obedient vnto the death, euen vnto the death of the crosse.

Mace New Testament (1729)
and his whole exterior showing nothing more than a meer man, he abased himself, and carried his submission so far as to die, even the death of the cross.

New English Translation
He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!

New King James Version
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He humbled himself in obedience to God and rode all the way to the cross. He died like a criminal so you could live like a king.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Legacy Standard Bible
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Contextual Overview

¹Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, ²make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. ³Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. ⁴Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], ⁶who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; ⁷but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. ⁸After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.⁹For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in: Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2, Mark 9:3, Luke 9:29

he: Proverbs 15:33, Acts 8:33, Hebrews 5:5-7, Hebrews 12:2

and became: Psalms 40:6-8, Isaiah 50:5, Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42, John 4:34, John 15:10, Hebrews 5:8, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 10:7-9

the death: Deuteronomy 21:23, Psalms 22:16, John 10:18, John 12:28-32, John 14:31, Galatians 3:13, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 7:5 - all that Genesis 22:9 - bound Deuteronomy 21:3 - an Judges 16:30 - So the dead 1 Samuel 18:4 - stripped himself 2 Samuel 6:20 - glorious 1 Chronicles 17:17 - hast regarded Psalms 8:5 - thou Psalms 109:21 - But do Psalms 113:8 - General Isaiah 52:13 - my servant Isaiah 53:12 - will I Daniel 10:16 - like Matthew 3:15 - for Matthew 11:29 - for Mark 9:12 - set Mark 14:36 - nevertheless Luke 2:21 - eight Luke 22:27 - General John 6:38 - not John 19:30 - and he Romans 15:3 - Christ 1 Corinthians 3:23 - and Christ 2 Corinthians 13:4 - he was Hebrews 2:14 - he also Hebrews 2:17 - it Hebrews 4:15 - we have Revelation 1:13 - like

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there.

Genesis 2:9
And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

Genesis 3:24
So God drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He [permanently] stationed the cherubim and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round [in every direction] to protect and guard the way (entrance, access) to the tree of life.

Genesis 4:16
So Cain went away from the [manifested] presence of the LORD, and lived in the land of Nod [wandering in exile], east of Eden.

Genesis 13:10
So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea].

2 Kings 19:12
'Did the gods of the nations whom my forefathers destroyed rescue them—Gozan and Haran [of Mesopotamia] and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?

Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion [in her captivity]; He will comfort all her ruins. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and the voice of a melody.

Ezekiel 27:23
"Haran and Canneh and Eden [in Mesopotamia], the merchants of Sheba [on the Euphrates], Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.

Ezekiel 28:13
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and your sockets, Was in you. They were prepared On the day that you were created.

Ezekiel 31:16
"I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria's downfall].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And being found in fashion as a man,.... Not that he had only the show and appearance of a man, but he was really a man; for "as" here, denotes not merely the likeness of a thing, but the thing itself, as in Matthew 14:5, ως here, answers to the Hebrew

כ, which is sometimes by the Jews k said to be כף הדמיון, and signifies likeness, and sometimes כף האמתות, and designs truth and reality; which is the sense in which the particle is to be taken here: though he was seen and looked upon as a mere man, and therefore charged with blasphemy when he asserted himself to be the Son of God, he was more than a man; and yet found and known by men in common to be no more than a man, than just such a man as other men are; and so far is true, that his scheme, his habit, his fashion, his form, were like that of other men; though he was not begotten as man, but conceived in an extraordinary manner by the power of the Holy Ghost, yet he lay nine months in his mother's womb, as the human foetus ordinarily does; he was born as children are, was wrapped in swaddling bands when born, as an infant is; grew in stature by degrees, as men do; the shape and size of his body were like other men's, and he was subject to the same infirmities, as hunger, thirst, weariness, pain, grief, sorrow, and death itself, as follows:

he humbled himself: by becoming man, and by various outward actions in his life; as subjection to his parents, working at the trade of a carpenter, conversing with the meanest of men, washing his disciples' feet, c. and the whole of his deportment both to God and man, his compliance with his Father's will, though disagreeable to flesh and blood, his behaviour towards his enemies, and his forbearance of his disciples, showed him to be of a meek and humble spirit he humbled himself both to God and man:

and became obedient unto death, or "until death"; for he was obedient from the cradle to the cross, to God, to men, to his earthly parents, and to magistrates; he was obedient to the ceremonial law, to circumcision, the passover, c. to the moral law, to all the precepts of it, which he punctually fulfilled and to the penalty of it, death, which he voluntarily and cheerfully bore, in the room and stead of his people:

even the death of the cross; which was both painful and shameful; it was an accursed one, and showed that he bore the curse of the law, and was made a curse for us: this was a punishment usually inflicted on servants, and is called a servile punishment l; and such was the form which he took, when he was found in fashion as a man: this is now the great instance of humility the apostle gives, as a pattern of it to the saints, and it is a matchless and unparalleled one.

k Vid. Kimchi in Josh. iii. 4. l Lipsins de Cruce, l. 1. c. 12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And being found - That is, being such, or existing as a man, he humbled himself.

In fashion as a man - The word rendered “fashion” - σχῆμα schēma - means figure, mien, deportment. Here it is the same as state, or condition. The sense is, that when he was reduced to this condition he humbled himself, and obeyed even unto death. He took upon himself all the attributes of a man. He assumed all the innocent infirmities of our nature. He appeared as other people do, was subjected to the necessity of food and clothing, like others, and was made liable to suffering, as other men are. It was still he who had been in the “form of God” who thus appeared; and, though his divine glory had been for a time laid aside, yet it was not extinguished or lost. It is important to remember, in all our meditations on the Saviour, that it was the same Being who had been invested with so much glory in heaven, that appeared on earth in the form of a man.

He humbled himself - Even then, when he appeared as a man. He had not only laid aside the symbols of his glory Philippians 2:7, and become a man; but when he was a man, he humbled himself. Humiliation was a constant characteristic of him as a man. He did not aspire to high honors; he did not affect pomp and parade; he did not demand the service of a train of menials; but he condescended to the lowest conditions of life; Luke 22:27. The words here are very carefully chosen. In the former case Philippians 2:7, when he became a man, he “emptied himself,” or laid aside the symbols of his glory; now, when a man, he humbled himself. That is, though he was God appearing in the form of man - a divine person on earth - yet he did not assume and assert the dignity and prerogatives appropriate to a divine being, but put himself in a condition of obedience. For such a being to obey law, implied voluntary humiliation; and the greatness of his humiliation was shown by his becoming entirely obedient, even until he died on the cross.

And became obedient - He subjected himself to the law of God, and wholly obeyed it; Hebrews 10:7, Hebrews 10:9. It was a characteristic of the Redeemer that he yielded perfect obedience to the will of God. Should it be said that, if he was God himself, he must have been himself the lawgiver, we may reply that this rendered his obedience all the more wonderful and all the more meritorious. If a monarch should for an important purpose place himself in a position to obey his own laws, nothing could show in a more striking manner their importance in his view. The highest honor that has been shown to the Law of God on earth was, that it was perfectly observed by him who made the Law - the great Mediator.

Unto death - He obeyed even when obedience terminated in death. The point of this expression is this: One may readily and cheerfully obey another where there is no particular peril. But the case is different where obedience is attended with danger. The child shows a spirit of true obedience when he yields to the commands of a father, though it should expose him to hazard; the servant who obeys his master, when obedience is attended with risk of life; the soldier, when he is morally certain that to obey will be followed by death. Thus, many a company or platoon has been ordered into the “deadly breach,” or directed to storm a redoubt, or to scale a wall, or to face a cannon, when it was morally certain that death would be the consequence. No profounder spirit of obedience can be evinced than this. It should be said, however, that the obedience of the soldier is in many cases scarcely voluntary, since, if he did not obey, death would be the penalty. But, in the case of the Redeemer, it was wholly voluntary. He placed himself in the condition of a servant to do the will of God, and then never shrank from what that condition involved.

Even the death of the cross - It was not such a death as a servant might incur by crossing a stream, or by failing among robbers, or by being worn out by toil; it was not such as the soldier meets when he is suddenly cut down, covered with glory as he falls; it was the long lingering, painful, humiliating death of the cross. Many a one might be willing to obey if the death that was suffered was regarded as glorious; but when it is ignominious, and of the most degrading character, and the most torturing that human ingenuity can invent, then the whole character of the obedience is changed. Yet this was the obedience the Lord Jesus evinced; and it was in this way that his remarkable readiness to suffer was shown.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. And being found in fashion as a man — Και σχηματι εὑρεθεις ὡς ανθρωπος. This clause should be joined to the preceding, and thus translated: Being made in the likeness of man, and was found in fashion as a man.

He humbled himself — Laid himself as low as possible:

1. In emptying himself-laying aside the effulgence of his glory.

2. In being incarnate-taking upon him the human form.

3. In becoming a servant-assuming the lowest innocent character, that of being the servant of all.

4. In condescending to die, to which he was not naturally liable, as having never sinned, and therefore had a right in his human nature to immortality, without passing under the empire of death.

5. In condescending, not only to death, but to the lowest and most ignominious kind of death, the death of the cross; the punishment of the meanest of slaves and worst of felons.

What must sin have been in the sight of God, when it required such abasement in Jesus Christ to make an atonement for it, and undo its influence and malignity!