Philippians 2 7

Philippians 2:7 kjv

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:7 nkjv

but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:7 niv

rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:7 esv

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:7 nlt

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,

Philippians 2 verses

Philippians 2 7 Meaning

This verse describes a profound act of voluntary self-humiliation by Jesus Christ. Though eternally existing in the very nature of God, He did not cling to the prerogatives or outward displays of His divine majesty but deliberately and willingly set aside those privileges. Instead, He fully entered into human existence, truly taking on human nature and assuming the humble role of a servant, aligning Himself with humanity in all things, yet without sin. This "emptying" or "making Himself nothing" was an act of sacrificial love, laying the foundation for His redemptive work on the cross.

Philippians 2 7 Context

Philippians 2:7 is part of the "Christ Hymn" (Philippians 2:5-11), which is central to Paul's argument in the chapter. Paul exhorts the Philippian believers to exhibit unity and humility, instructing them to "have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). The actions of Christ described in verses 6-8, including His self-emptying and servanthood, are presented as the supreme example for their own conduct. In a historical and cultural context where honor, status, and self-assertion were highly valued in the Roman world (especially in a Roman colony like Philippi), Christ's voluntary self-abasement, choosing servanthood over privilege, presented a radical, counter-cultural paradigm for life and ministry, directly challenging worldly notions of greatness.

Philippians 2 7 Word analysis

• but emptied Himself (ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν - alla heauton ekenōsen)
  • ἀλλὰ (alla): "but" - This strong conjunction introduces a direct and sharp contrast to the preceding verse, which stated that Christ "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped."
  • ἑαυτὸν (heauton): "Himself" - Emphasizes the voluntary and internal nature of this act. It was an autonomous, sovereign choice made by Christ Himself.
  • ἐκένωσεν (ekenōsen): "emptied" - Derived from the verb κενόω (kenoo), meaning "to empty, strip, divest." This is the foundational concept of kenosis. It does not imply that Christ ceased to be God or gave up His divine attributes like omnipotence or omnipresence. Rather, it means He set aside the prerogatives of His divine state – the independent use and display of His divine powers, His intrinsic glory, and the majesty He held in heaven. He took on limitations appropriate to genuine humanity to accomplish salvation.
• taking the form of a bond-servant (μορφὴν δούλου λαβών - morphēn doulou labōn)
  • λαβών (labōn): "taking," "receiving" - Indicates a deliberate and active assumption of something. Christ actively took this on.
  • μορφὴν (morphēn): "form," "nature" - This term denotes the intrinsic, essential character or nature of something, not just a superficial appearance (contrast with σχήμα - schēma in Phil 2:8, which implies outward guise). So, He genuinely became a servant; it was His new mode of existence. It parallels "form of God" in v. 6, indicating His intrinsic reality as a servant just as He is intrinsically God.
  • δούλου (doulou): "a bond-servant," "slave" - Represents the lowest status in society, implying absolute obedience, dependence, and availability for others. This highlights the radical extent of His humility, identifying with humanity, not as a master, but as one subject to all the demands and experiences of servanthood. This connects Him to the Old Testament "Suffering Servant" prophecies.
• and being made in the likeness of men (ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος - en homoiōmati anthrōpōn genomenos)
  • γενόμενος (genomenos): "being made," "becoming," "came to be" - This is an aorist participle indicating a completed historical action – the Incarnation. He came into being as a man, emphasizing the reality of His advent and presence within the human realm.
  • ὁμοιώματι (homoiōmati): "likeness" - This term denotes genuine resemblance or correspondence, not mere illusion. It affirms the true, substantial reality of His humanity without implying that it was somehow incomplete or unreal. While Christ was like us, the "likeness" can also allow for the difference that He was without sin. It confirms His full identification with humanity's condition.
  • ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn): "of men" - Refers to humanity collectively. Christ genuinely joined the human race, taking on all the essential characteristics of a human being.
• Words-Group analysis:
  • "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant": These phrases illustrate the active nature of kenosis. His self-emptying was precisely realized by taking on the form and role of a servant. It wasn't a passive withdrawal but an active assumption of a new, lower status.
  • "form of a bond-servant... likeness of men": These two phrases further clarify His incarnation. He not only took on the outward reality of humanity ("likeness of men") but fully embraced the inherent humility and obedience that characterize true servanthood ("form of a bond-servant"), even though He was Lord of all.

Philippians 2 7 Bonus section

The "Christ Hymn" (Philippians 2:5-11) is widely considered to be a pre-Pauline hymn, signifying that the radical Christology articulated here—the pre-existence, kenosis, incarnation, and exaltation of Christ—was already an established belief and liturgical confession in the early Church. This points to the early, widespread understanding of Jesus's dual nature as both fully God and fully man, an idea that directly contradicted philosophical dualisms and Roman hierarchical thinking. The Greek term morphē (form) in contrast to schēma (outward appearance) emphasizes the depth and reality of Christ's identity shifts without compromising His essential nature as either God or human. He possessed the very nature of God, yet he adopted the nature of a servant, living in the likeness (reality) of human beings.

Philippians 2 7 Commentary

Philippians 2:7 concisely reveals the incredible, voluntary condescension of the Son of God. He, who was essentially divine, actively chose to "empty Himself"—not by ceasing to be God, but by willingly foregoing the rightful display and independent exercise of His divine prerogatives, power, and glory. This was actualized by genuinely taking on human nature and assuming the humble and submissive character of a bond-servant. He became fully human, experiencing human limitations, dependencies, and ultimately, mortality, providing the perfect pattern of selfless humility and a truly obedient sacrifice that bridges the chasm between God and humanity. This divine self-abnegation underscores the depth of God's love and provides the ultimate example for all believers to live in self-giving unity and service.