Devine Scripture

Philippians 3:19

What does Philippians 3:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Philippians 3:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Philippians 3:19 means

Paul summarizes the enemies’ profile: their end is perdition; their god is their belly; they glory in what should shame them; their minds fix on earthly things. Appetite rules them—whether sensual desires or craving for human approval. Their boasting reveals inverted values. Earthly-mindedness shrinks life to the present age, blinding them to the coming judgment. This verse unmasks the heart of legalism and license alike: self at the center. The sober outcome warns believers not to envy or imitate them. The gospel frees from slavery to appetites and reorients glory to Christ, who alone can satisfy and save.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

whose end <FI>is<Fi> destruction, whose god <FI>is<Fi> the belly, and whose glory <FI>is<Fi> in their shame, who the things on earth are minding.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

whose end [is] destruction, whosegod [is] the belly, and [their] glory in their shame, who mind earthly things:)

Context

Verse 19 completes the negative portrait begun in verse 18. It readies the contrast in verses 20–21, where Paul lifts believers’ eyes to heavenly citizenship and Christ’s return. The flow moves from warning to hope: by showing the bleak end of the earthly-minded, Paul magnifies the beauty of the believer’s destiny. This contrast reinforces the chapter’s theme—press on toward the heavenly prize, not the passing pleasures that end in ruin. The next verses will ground perseverance in the promise of transformation by the Lord Jesus Christ.

v.18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

v.19This passage

v.20For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Cross references

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

  • 1 Timothy 6:5

    wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.

  • Revelation 20:9

    And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.

  • Revelation 18:7

    How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:6

    Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • 1 Samuel 2:11

    And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

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