Philippians 2:9 kjv
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:9 nkjv
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Philippians 2:9 niv
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:9 esv
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:9 nlt
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
Philippians 2 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Phil 2:8 | ...humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death... | Pre-cursor: Christ's ultimate humility. |
| Heb 12:2 | ...for the joy set before Him endured the cross... has sat down... | Christ's reward for suffering and obedience. |
| Acts 2:33 | Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the Holy... | Pentecostal declaration of Christ's post-resurrection exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels... | Christ's present exalted status in heaven. |
| Isa 52:13 | My servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and... | OT prophecy of the Servant's eventual exaltation. |
| Isa 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he shall divide... | OT prophecy linking suffering with subsequent glory. |
| Ps 8:5-6 | Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned... | Prophetic of humanity's (and Christ's) glorification. |
| John 17:1-5 | Glorify your Son... with the glory I had with you before the world began. | Christ's prayer for pre-incarnate glory to be restored. |
| Matt 28:18 | All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. | Christ's post-resurrection declaration of universal authority. |
| Phil 2:10-11 | At the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess... | Consequence: universal submission and confession. |
| Acts 4:12 | Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under... | Uniqueness of Christ's name for salvation. |
| Rom 10:9 | If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your... | Confession of Jesus' Lordship (His supreme name) is central. |
| 1 Cor 8:6 | ...one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom... | Declaration of Christ's unique Lordship alongside God the Father. |
| Eph 1:20-21 | ...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every... | Christ's supremacy over all created spiritual and earthly powers. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by Him all things were created... He is before all things, and in Him... | Christ's preeminence in creation and sustenance. |
| Rev 19:16 | On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS, AND... | Revelation of Christ's ultimate kingly title. |
| Zech 14:9 | The LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one... | Prophecy of God's universal and sole reign. |
| Heb 1:3-4 | ...sat down at the right hand... having become as much superior to angels... | Christ's inherited name surpasses all angelic names. |
| Rev 5:12-13 | Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom... | Universal acclamation of Christ's worthiness and glory. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | To him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations... | Prophecy of the Son of Man's universal, eternal kingdom. |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... | The Father's divine initiative in sending and giving His Son. |
| Rom 8:32 | He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how... | The Father's sacrificial act and providential plan. |
Philippians 2 verses
Philippians 2 9 Meaning
Because of His profound self-humiliation and obedient sacrifice, God the Father, in an act of divine vindication, super-exalted Jesus Christ. The Father freely bestowed upon Him a name representing ultimate authority, character, and power, a name superior to all others in the entire universe. This verse declares Christ's unparalleled supremacy and the Father's supreme reward for the Son's obedience.
Philippians 2 9 Context
Philippians 2:9 stands as the climax of the "Christ Hymn" (verses 5-11), which begins by calling believers to embrace humility by considering Christ's example. Verses 5-8 describe Jesus' pre-existent glory, His voluntary self-emptying (kenosis) to assume human form, His humbling Himself even unto death on a cross, demonstrating ultimate obedience. Verse 9 pivots from Christ's profound humiliation to God the Father's glorious response. Historically, this hymn challenges the pride and self-centeredness present in the Philippian church, possibly rooted in their desire for status or rivalry. It also subtly countered the prevailing Roman imperial cult where Caesar was declared 'Lord' (Kyrios), presenting Jesus as the true and ultimate Kyrios, exalted by the divine Father.
Philippians 2 9 Word analysis
- Therefore (διό - dio): A strong consequential conjunction. Connects God's action directly to Christ's preceding humiliation and obedience (Phil 2:6-8). It signifies cause and effect, "on account of which," or "for this reason."
- God (ὁ θεός - ho Theos): Refers specifically to God the Father. He is the active agent bestowing the exaltation and the name upon the Son.
- also (καὶ - kai): Implies a reciprocal divine action. Just as Christ emptied Himself, God now glorifies Him. It underlines the just response.
- has highly exalted (ὑπερύψωσεν - hyperypsóōsen): From hyperypsóō (ὑπερυψόω). The prefix hyper- means "above" or "beyond." It conveys a supreme, super-exaltation—an elevation beyond any other possible. It contrasts powerfully with Christ's preceding "humbling Himself" (etapeínosen).
- Him (αὐτόν - autón): Refers to Jesus Christ, the one who humbled himself and became obedient unto death.
- and bestowed on Him (ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ - echarisato autō): From charizomai (χαρίζομαι), meaning "to give freely," "to grant," "to show grace." This emphasizes that the name is not earned by Christ in a human merit-based sense but is a gracious gift from the Father. It signifies divine favour.
- the name (τὸ ὄνομα - to onoma): More than a mere label or title. In Semitic and Hellenistic thought, a "name" encapsulates the person's essence, character, authority, reputation, power, and presence. It likely refers to the ultimate divine authority and specifically the name "Lord" (Kyrios), a Greek translation for the Hebrew YHWH.
- which is above every name (τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα - to hyper pan onoma): Signifies absolute supremacy. This name surpasses all other names, titles, and authorities—whether human, angelic, or cosmic. It establishes Christ's preeminent and unique authority over all creation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him": This phrase directly establishes divine vindication. Christ's unparalleled humility and obedience received an equally unparalleled divine response. The Father, being the righteous Judge, justly raises the obedient Son to supreme glory.
- "and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name": This defines the nature of the exaltation. It's not just a status but the bestowal of ultimate authority and identification. The 'name' embodies all that God is, now graciously given to Christ, asserting His singular and supreme sovereignty over the entire universe, overriding any other claim to authority, divine or human.
Philippians 2 9 Bonus section
The exaltation of Christ in Philippians 2:9 is foundational to understanding the New Testament's presentation of Jesus' deity and authority. While Philippians 2:6 highlights His pre-existent equality with God (His divine nature), verse 9 underscores God the Father's vindication and enthronement of Jesus as the Christ following His incarnate obedience and sacrifice. This act confirms that the Son, even in His obedient human form, possesses a unique relationship with the Father and a supreme identity. The idea of the Father giving the Son this "name" resonates with ancient kings bestowing royal titles or sharing their own authority, but here it's on a cosmic, unparalleled scale. This cosmic exaltation directly fulfills Old Testament messianic prophecies, especially those pointing to a coming divine King who would rule all nations. This verse implicitly assures believers that their ultimate loyalty must be to this supremely exalted Lord, above all human rulers or earthly allegiances.
Philippians 2 9 Commentary
Philippians 2:9 presents the majestic divine response to Christ's obedient self-sacrifice described in the preceding verses. It illustrates a fundamental pattern of the Kingdom of God: humility precedes exaltation. God the Father did not merely raise Jesus, but "highly exalted" Him (hyperypsóō), an act emphasizing absolute, incomparable elevation. This wasn't merely a restoration of His pre-incarnate glory, but an enthronement of the Incarnate Son in His full humanity to a position of universal headship and authority. The "name" bestowed upon Him is not just an identification, but a representation of ultimate power and sovereignty, commonly understood to be "Lord" (Kyrios), echoing the divine name of Yahweh in the Old Testament. This grants Jesus supreme authority over all creation and spiritual realms. This verse is not about Christ gaining divinity, which He eternally possesses, but about His human nature being divinely honored and granted a glorified status consonant with His divine person. It sets the stage for universal worship (v.10-11) and serves as the ultimate assurance of Christ's reign and final victory.
Practical Examples:
- Motivation for service: Recognizing Christ's exaltation, we serve Him wholeheartedly, knowing His authority undergirds our mission.
- Perseverance in suffering: If Christ endured suffering to achieve ultimate glory, believers can find strength to persevere, trusting in God's eventual vindication and reward.
- Authority in prayer: We pray in Jesus' name, acknowledging the supreme power and access His exalted status grants us.