that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Parallel translations
- WEB that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
- KJV That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
- NKJV that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
- NASB so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- NLT that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
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
At Jesus' name every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. All creation will ultimately submit to Christ.
Overview
Echoing Isaiah 45:23, where every knee bows to Yahweh, Paul applies this universal homage to Jesus, affirming His deity. The three realms encompass all created beings, willingly or not, acknowledging His lordship. Christ's exaltation guarantees that His reign will be universally recognized.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 45:23–25By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
- Matt 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
- Rev 5:13–14And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
- Heb 1:6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
- Rom 14:10–11Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- Eph 3:14... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
- Rev 4:10the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
- Eph 1:10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- John 5:28–29Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
- Matt 27:29And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
- Rev 20:13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
- Matt 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Rom 11:4And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
- Eph 4:9What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
- Gen 41:43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
How Philippians 2:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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