Philippians 2:5–8
In the form of God, he emptied himself, took the form of a slave, and was obedient to death on a cross
Study it word by word5Think this way among yourselves, which was also in the Messiah Jesus,
6who, being in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to be seized,
7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of human beings; and being found in appearance as a human being,
8he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
In its context
3Do nothing from selfish ambition or from empty conceit, but in humility regard one another as surpassing yourselves,
4each not looking out for their own interests but each also for the interests of others.
…
9Therefore God also highly exalted him and granted him the name that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Its words in the original
- φρονεῖτεphroneite· think, set one's mind
Think, have in mind, set one's interest on something.
- ΧριστῷChristōi· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- μορφῇmorphēi· form
Form, outward appearance.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ὑπάρχωνhyparchōn· be, exist
Be, exist, be present; "what one has", one's possessions.
- ἁρπαγμὸνharpagmon· something to grasp
Something to hold on to, like plunder kept for oneself.
- ἡγήσατοhēgēsato· lead, consider
Lead, go in front, rule; "leader", "ruler". Also think, consider, regard.
- εἶναιeinai· be
Be, exist.
- ἴσαisa· equal
Equal.
- ἐκένωσενekenōsen· empty, make void
Make empty; in the passive, be emptied, lose value or meaning.
- δούλουdoulou· slave
Slave: someone who belongs to a master and serves him.
- λαβώνlabōn· take, receive
Take, receive.
- ὁμοιώματιhomoiōmati· likeness
Likeness: something made like something else, a form or resemblance.
- ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōn· human being, man
Human being, person, man (without distinguishing male or female).
- γενόμενοςgenomenos· become, happen
Become, happen, come about; be born.
- σχήματιschēmati· form, appearance
Form, outward appearance.
- εὑρεθεὶςheuretheis· find
Find; in the passive, turn out to be, be found to be so.
- ἐταπείνωσενetapeinōsen· humble, bring low
Humble, bring low, abase; humble oneself, make oneself small.
- ὑπήκοοςhypēkoos· obedient
Obedient, submissive.
- μέχριmechri· until, as far as
Until; as far as.
- θανάτουthanatou· death
Death.
- σταυροῦstaurou· cross
Cross: the wooden stake of Roman execution.