Devine Scripture

Philippians 2:6

What does Philippians 2:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Philippians 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Philippians 2:6 means

Jesus Christ truly existed in the very form of God—sharing God’s nature and glory. Yet He did not regard equality with God as something to be seized for advantage or clutched tightly to prevent stooping down. He did not exploit His divine status. Instead of grasping at prerogatives, He chose the path of self-giving. This verse affirms both His deity and His willing restraint. The wonder is that the One who is equal with God does not insist on His rights but sets them aside in order to save. Such a view of Christ confronts our instinct to use power for self, and calls us to steward whatever authority we have for others’ good.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

who, being in the form of God, thought <FI>it<Fi> not robbery to be equal to God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

who, subsisting in the form ofGod, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality withGod;

Context

Having told believers to share Christ’s mindset (v. 5), Paul begins with Christ’s lofty starting point: existing in God’s form (v. 6). He then traces Christ’s voluntary descent—self-emptying, servanthood, true humanity, and obedience to death (vv. 7–8). Only after this descent comes the ascent: God’s exaltation of Jesus (vv. 9–11). The flow underscores that the path to glory in God’s economy runs through humility. This sets the pattern for the Philippians’ life together: lay down status for love, trusting that God sees and will honor faithful obedience.

v.5Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

v.6This passage

v.7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • John 5:18

    For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

  • Romans 9:5

    whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

  • Hosea 12:3

    In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:

  • Matthew 1:23

    Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.

  • Titus 2:13

    looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

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