UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: noun, m.

Inflections: ἁρπαγμός; -οῦ

Related lemmas: ἁρπάζω

Sense 1: to rob, to carry off, to plunder, to forcefully seize

Semantic entry: 57.235

Semantic domains: Possess, Transfer, Exchange

Subdomains: Steal, Rob

Definition: to forcefully take something away from someone else, often with the implication of a sudden attack

Notes: This interpretation of RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6 reflects the position of Jesus after the incarnation and the fact that he had no thought of trying to become equal with God because he already possessed all of the qualities of deity. Some traditional translations have rendered the latter part of RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6 as ‘did not think it robbery to be equal with God,’ but see 57.236: ἁρπαγμός.

PHP 2:6: RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6

Show passage in OET

OET-RV PHP 2:6

6 Yeshua, though he was in the form of God, didn’t take advantage of being considered equal with God,

OET-LV PHP 2:6

6 who in the_form of_god being, not advantage considered which to _be equal with_god,

Sense 2: something to hold by force, something to be forcibly retained

Semantic entry: 57.236

Semantic domains: Possess, Transfer, Exchange

Subdomains: Steal, Rob

Definition: that which is to be held on to forcibly

Notes: Compare the rendering of ἁρπαγμός[a] in 57.235: ἁρπαγή / 57.235: ἁρπαγμός / 57.235: ἁρπάζω. Since ἁρπαγμός may mean not only ‘to grasp something forcefully which one does not have’ (57.235: ἁρπαγή / 57.235: ἁρπαγμός / 57.235: ἁρπάζω) but also ‘to retain by force what one possesses,’ it is possible to translate RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6 in two quite different ways. This second interpretation of ἁρπαγμός presumes the position of Jesus prior to the incarnation and hence his willingness to experience the kenosis or ‘emptying’ of his divine prerogatives. In any translation of RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6 it is important that both possible renderings be clearly indicated, one in the text and the other in the margin.

PHP 2:6: RV PHP 2:6 · LV PHP 2:6 · Read together PHP 2:6

Show passage in OET

OET-RV PHP 2:6

6 Yeshua, though he was in the form of God, didn’t take advantage of being considered equal with God,

OET-LV PHP 2:6

6 who in the_form of_god being, not advantage considered which to _be equal with_god,

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

ἁρπαγμός

Form 1

Sense 1: to rob, to carry off, to plunder, to forcefully seize

Sense 2: something to hold by force, something to be forcibly retained