That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
- KJV Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
- BSB This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
- NKJV Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
- NASB Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive the captives, And He gave gifts to people.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul cites Psalm 68 to picture Christ as a victorious king who, having ascended, distributes gifts to his people. His triumph becomes the church's enrichment.
Overview
Drawing on Psalm 68:18, Paul portrays Christ's ascension as a conqueror's triumphal procession. 'He led captivity captive' depicts Christ's victory over the powers of sin, death, and the devil, and from that victory he 'gave gifts to men.' The risen, exalted Christ is the source of every grace and gifting in his church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ps 68:18You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
- Col 2:15having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
- 1 Sam 30:26When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you from the plunder of Yahweh’s enemies.”
- Esth 2:18Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.
- Judg 5:12‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
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Original language
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