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And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:8 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
  • KJV And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
  • BSB And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
  • NASB And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.
  • NLT he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

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

Being found human, Christ humbled Himself further, obedient even to death on a cross. His humility descended to the lowest point, a criminal's execution.

Overview

The incarnation was not the end of His descent; He obeyed all the way to death, and not just any death but crucifixion, the most shameful and cursed. This obedience accomplished our salvation, as the sinless one died in our place. Christ's self-humbling reaches its depth at the cross.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 25

  • John 10:18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
  • Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • Rom 5:19For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
  • 1 Pet 2:24who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
  • 1 Pet 3:18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
  • 2 Cor 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
  • Matt 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
  • Acts 8:33In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
  • Titus 2:14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
  • Gal 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”
  • Isa 50:5–6The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.
  • Heb 5:5–9So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”
  • John 14:31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
  • Prov 15:33The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
  • Ps 40:6–8Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
  • John 15:10If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
  • John 12:28–32Father, glorify your name!” Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
  • Matt 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”
  • Heb 10:7–9Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
  • Ps 22:16For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
  • Deut 21:23his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of God; that you don’t defile your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.
  • Mark 9:2–3After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
  • John 4:34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.
  • Matt 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
  • Luke 9:29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Philippians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Philippians 2:8YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PhilippiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 2:8 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.