7
butἀλλὰemptiedἐκένωσενhimself,ἑαυτὸνtakingλαβώνthe formμορφὴνof a slave,δούλουcoming to beγενόμενοςinἐνthe likenessὁμοιώματιof human beings;ἀνθρώπωνandκαὶbeing foundεὑρεθεὶςin appearanceσχήματιasὡςa human being,ἄνθρωπος
Philippians 2:7
Study it in the app“but 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,”
In the form of God, he emptied himself, took the form of a slave, and was obedient to death on a crossWho Jesus IsPaul asks us to think like the Messiah, who, in the form of God, became a slave, even to a crossHumility and Service
With the Greek beneath
Philippians 2:7, word by word
- emptiedἐκένωσενekenōsen
empty, make void
Make empty; in the passive, be emptied, lose value or meaning.
Where else “ekenōsen” appears- takingλαβώνlabōn
take
To grasp something in the hand, or take it from someone.
Where else “labōn” appears- the formμορφὴνmorphēn
form
Form, outward appearance.
Where else “morphēn” appears- of a slaveδούλουdoulou
slave
A person who belongs to a master and serves him.
Where else “doulou” appears- coming to beγενόμενοςgenomenos
become
To turn into something new, different from before.
Where else “genomenos” appears- the likenessὁμοιώματιhomoiōmati
likeness
Likeness: something made like something else, a form or resemblance.
Where else “homoiōmati” appears- of human beingsἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōn
person
A person, man or woman.
Where else “anthrōpōn” appears- being foundεὑρεθεὶςheuretheis
turn out
To turn out to be; "was not found" means vanished.
Where else “heuretheis” appears- in appearanceσχήματιschēmati
form, appearance
Form, outward appearance.
Where else “schēmati” appears
Translation note
“Emptied himself”: the Greek verb means “to empty.” The same verse says how: “taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of human beings.”
The context
6who, being in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to be seized,
7 · This verse (above)
8he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
To study Philippians 2 in a group
1. What it says
What attitude does Paul ask for in verses 3 and 4, and what example does the Messiah give (v. 5-8)?
2. What it means
Why do you think Paul links the Messiah's humility with his exaltation (v. 6-11)? What does that teach?
3. How I live it
Paul asks that everything be done without grumbling or arguing (v. 14). Where in your day could you try that?