Philippians 4 7

Philippians 4:7 kjv

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 nkjv

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 niv

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 esv

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 nlt

Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4 verses

Philippians 4 7 Meaning

The peace of God transcends all understanding. It surpasses human comprehension and is distinct from a mere absence of conflict. This peace actively guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4 7 Context

Philippians 4:7 follows Paul's exhortation in verse 6 to cast off all anxiety by presenting every request to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. This specific verse reveals the glorious outcome of such unburdening—the peace of God. In the broader context of the letter, Paul is writing to the Philippian church, a community he deeply loved, from prison. Despite his difficult circumstances, his overriding theme is joy and steadfastness in Christ. He is encouraging them to live unified, joyful lives, rooted in their shared faith in Christ Jesus, irrespective of external pressures or internal strife. This peace of God is presented as the antidote to worry and the cornerstone of steadfastness in the face of life's adversities.

Philippians 4 7 Word Analysis

• kaiv (kai): "and" - A common conjunctive particle connecting clauses. Here, it links the preceding instruction (prayer) to the resulting promise (peace).
• tou / qeou / tou (tou theou): "of God" - A genitive construction indicating possession or origin. The peace originates from God Himself, not from human effort or circumstance.
• eivrhvnh / (eirene): "peace" - From the Hebrew "Shalom," it signifies more than the absence of conflict. It denotes wholeness, completeness, well-being, and security. It's a deep, abiding tranquility.
• ejxestw / s (exestos): This word is not found in standard lexicons for this context. It seems to be a typographical error. The correct word likely intended to be related to surpassing or exceeding. Scholars generally agree that the Greek text points to a peace that "surpasses" or "exceeds" human understanding. The standard Greek text for Philippians 4:7 uses the word perisseúei (περισσεύει), meaning "to abound," "to be superabundant," or "to exceed." However, some ancient manuscripts and textual critics propose variants. Some modern translations reflect a sense of "exceeding all understanding." Let's assume the intended concept is "exceeding."
• o9n (on): "which" or "that" - A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause describing the peace.
• nouv / n (noun): "mind" - Refers to the faculty of understanding, thought, intellect, or reasoning.
• k]i (ki): This appears to be an incomplete or corrupted word. In the context of surpassing understanding, the intended word is likely kaiv (kai) used adverbially for emphasis ("even," "also," or simply linking), or perhaps the intention was to emphasize "all" understanding. Standard Greek phrasing would be "passes all understanding."
• `um v w-n (humon): "your" - Refers to the recipients of the letter, the Philippian believers.
• th/rhsavt / wn (terēsōn): "will keep" or "will guard" - A present active indicative verb from tēreō, meaning to guard, protect, keep watch over. It implies an active, continuous defense.
• k]a [i (kai): "and" - Connects the action of guarding to the objects guarded.
• th/n / k_rdiam (ten kardian): "the heart" - In Hebrew and Greek thought, the heart is the seat of emotions, will, intellect, and the inner person. It's the core of one's being.
• th/n / nohav / s m o n (tanoeasmon): "your minds" - Refers to the thoughts, minds, intellect, or way of thinking. Plural in the Greek.
• e n / X [ist î / I he su / u (en Christou Iesou): "in Christ Jesus" - This prepositional phrase signifies the sphere or means through which this peace operates and guards. It is contingent upon and empowered by the believer's union with Christ.

Words Grouped for Analysis:

• "The peace of God" (heivrhvnh tou qeou / h eirēnē tou theou): This is not merely an emotional state but a divinely bestowed gift, originating from God, reflecting His nature and character, especially His reconciliation with humanity through Christ.
• "surpasses/exceeds all understanding" (perisseúei pan noun / n / ou (perisseuei pan noun): This highlights the inadequacy of human intellect to fully grasp or explain the source and nature of this peace. It is supernatural.
• "will keep/guard your heart and your minds" (terēsei tēn kardian hymōn kai tas noēseis hymōn / terēsēi tēn kardian hymōn kai tas noēseis hymōn): This powerful imagery suggests a defensive action by the peace of God. It actively protects the deepest emotions, motivations (heart), and thoughts (minds) from anxiety, despair, and disordered thinking. The phrase "in Christ Jesus" specifies that this guarding is operative within the spiritual reality of union with Christ.

Philippians 4 7 Bonus Section

The concept of God's peace guarding the heart and mind is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." This connection emphasizes that this divine peace is directly linked to trust and a focus on God. The guarding function suggests it’s not passive but an active fortification against forces that seek to disrupt the believer's inner life, such as fear, doubt, and despair. The placement of "in Christ Jesus" is crucial, indicating that this peace is not universally given but is a blessing for those united to Christ through faith. This peace is a distinctive mark of the new covenant life.

Philippians 4 7 Commentary

Philippians 4:7 presents a profound truth about the Christian experience: the presence of God’s peace in the lives of believers. This peace is not contingent on external circumstances but is an active, protective force stemming from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Having been exhorted in the previous verse to overcome anxiety through prayer, believers are assured of a peace that logic cannot comprehend and circumstances cannot disrupt. It acts as a divine sentinel, safeguarding the core of our being—our emotions and our thoughts. This is the peace that results from entrusting our worries to God and experiencing His steadfast presence, empowered by our union with Christ Jesus. It calls for a continuous reliance on God’s provision rather than self-effort.

Practical Usage Examples:

• When facing financial worries, instead of succumbing to anxiety, engage in prayer and thanksgiving, trusting that God’s peace will guard your mind and heart.
• During relational conflict, focus on prayer and peace, allowing God’s peace to preserve your inner equilibrium rather than reacting in anger.
• In times of illness or loss, remember that this peace transcends understanding, offering a quiet confidence even amidst suffering.