PHP 2:7 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ἀλλά
2. alla
3. but
4. but
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131359
1. ἑαυτόν
2. heautou
3. himself
4. himself
5. 14380
6. R···3AMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131360
1. ἐκένωσεν
2. kenoō
3. emptied
4. emptied
5. 27580
6. VIAA3··S
7. emptied
8. emptied
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131361
1. μορφήν
2. morfē
3. +the form
4. -
5. 34440
6. N····AFS
7. ˓the˒ form
8. ˓the˒ form
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131362
1. δούλου
2. doulos
3. of +a slave
4. slave
5. 14010
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ slave
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ slave
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131363
1. λαβών
2. lambanō
3. having taken
4. -
5. 29830
6. VPAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ taken
8. ˓having˒ taken
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131364
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131365
1. ὁμοιώματι
2. homoiōma
3. +the likeness
4. -
5. 36670
6. N····DNS
7. ˓the˒ likeness
8. ˓the˒ likeness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131366
1. ἀνθρώπων
2. anthrōpos
3. of humans
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····GMP
7. ˱of˲ humans
8. ˱of˲ humans
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131367
1. ἀνθρώπου
2. anthrōpos
3. -
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ mankind
8. ˱of˲ mankind
9. -
10. -
11. 131368
1. γενόμενος
2. ginomai
3. having become
4. becoming
5. 10960
6. VPAM·NMS
7. ˓having˒ become
8. ˓having˒ become
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131369
1. Καί
2. kai
3. And
4. and Then
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131370
1. σχήματι
2. sχēma
3. in form
4. -
5. 49760
6. N····DNS
7. ˱in˲ form
8. ˱in˲ form
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131371
1. εὑρεθείς
2. euriskō
3. having been found
4. -
5. 21470
6. VPAP·NMS
7. ˓having_been˒ found
8. ˓having_been˒ found
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131372
1. ὡς
2. hōs
3. as
4. -
5. 56130
6. C·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131373
1. ἄνθρωπος
2. anthrōpos
3. +a human
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····NMS
7. ˓a˒ human
8. ˓a˒ human
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131374
1. ἀνθρώποις
2. anthrōpos
3. -
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····DMP
7. ˱for˲ humans
8. ˱for˲ humans
9. -
10. -
11. 131375

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:27–2:11: Paul encouraged the Philippians to live as true followers of Christ

Paul encouraged the Philippians to act as believers should, to agree with each other and to be courageous when they spoke to other people about Christ. Since they lived among many people who were opposed to the gospel, they should expect to defend their faith. They should also expect to suffer because they trusted in Christ.

Paragraph 2:5–8

Believers should think as Jesus did when he gave up his special place with God and humbled himself by becoming a man and dying on the cross.

Paul here turned the attention of his readers to Jesus Christ. Jesus was and is the supreme example of being humble and considering the needs of others more than his own.

2:7–8

There are six verbs in 2:7–8 (underlined below). These verbs can relate to each other in several ways. This is how they would appear in a literal translation of the Greek:

He emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men,
being found in form as a man,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient unto death.

(a) and (e) are the main verbs and the others depend on these two. The second meaning line in the Display arranges this passage in two sentences: A-B-C (2:7) and D-E-F (2:8), with the second sentence following chronologically after the first. First Christ humbled himself by becoming like a slave (that is, he became a man), and then he humbled himself further by dying.

Some translations have divided this into three sentences, A-B, C-D and E-F. Look at the GNT for one example of this.

2:7a

but emptied Himself,

Instead, he left everything behind,
Rather he willingly gave up his privileges as God and came to earth

emptied Himself: The BSB translates the Greek literally as emptied Himself. It means he humbled himself. Christ was still truly God in his character, attributes and nature. But he willingly gave up the power and privileges that were rightfully his and completely humbled himself in order to become human.

2:7b

taking the form of a servant,

accepting the same nature as a slave,
and he became the same as a slave,

taking the form of a servant: As Christ before his incarnation was truly God, now he became truly man as well. He took the form of a servant, that is, he became the same as a servant. This includes the implied meaning “he came to earth.” For example:

He came to earth and became the same as a servant/slave.

form: The Greek word that the BSB translates as form is morphē, the same Greek word that Paul used in 2:6a when referring to Christ having the same nature as God. See the note there. When Jesus became a man, he submitted himself to other people and experienced pain, hunger and thirst. If in your translation you can use the same word to speak about Jesus being in the form of God and Jesus taking the form of a servant, you should do so. However, if it is not possible to use the same word, try to still keep the parallelism in some way.

servant: See note on “servants” in 1:1a. Look for the word or phrase in your language that implies the lowest social position or the position of a servant. Jesus, who had had all the rights and privileges of God himself, now voluntarily becomes someone with no rights at all.

2:7c

being made in human likeness.

that is, he became a human being.
by being born as a human being.

The Display shows how the clause in 2:7b relates to the previous clause in 2:7a. It shows how Jesus took the form of a slave.

being made: This means “becoming” or “being born.”

in human likeness: A literal translation is “in the likeness of human beings.” Some English versions translate as “man” the Greek word that the BSB translates as human. But the Greek word used here does not mean “male.” It refers to a human being of either sex.

Your translation should not imply that Christ was like humans but not really human. So you may need to translate the phrase “being made in human likeness” as, for example, “he became a human being.”

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά ἑαυτόν ἐκένωσεν μορφήν δούλου λαβών ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος Καί σχήματι εὑρεθείς ὡς ἄνθρωπος)

The word Instead introduces a contrast between the preceding clause in [2:6](../02/06.md) and what is expressed about Jesus in this verse and the next two verses. The contrast is made between Jesus’ choice to retain his divine rights and privileges, or to surrender them. Choose the best form in your language to show the contrast that Instead expresses here. Alternate translation: [On the contrary] or [Rather] or [But instead]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν

The pronoun he refers to Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, consider the best way to express the meaning of he to show that it refers to Jesus. Alternate translation: [Instead, Jesus emptied himself]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν

The reflexive pronoun himself refers to Jesus and is used to emphasize the fact that Jesus freely and intentionally chose to empty himself of divine rights and privileges. Consider the best way to express the emphatic element of this pronoun in your language. Alternate translation: [he willingly set aside divine privileges]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν

Paul statement that Christ emptied himself is figurative and not literal. By using the figurative phrase he emptied himself, Paul is vividly expressing that Christ chose to give up his divine rights and privileges when he became human. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture, or use plain language. Alternate translation: [he gave up divine rights and privileges] or [he willingly set aside divine privileges]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μορφὴν δούλου λαβών

The phrase, having taken the form of a servant, means that Jesus acted as a servant while on earth. It does not mean that Jesus simply appeared to be a servant. If it would be helpful in your language, consider using an equivalent expression from your language, or state this in plain language. Alternative translation: [and acted as a servant]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος

in ˓the˒_likeness ˱of˲_humans ˓having˒_become

The phrase having been born in the likeness of men means that Jesus became a human being. It does not mean that Jesus only appeared to be human. Rather, it means that Jesus, who always existed as God, chose to take on a human body and appear on earth in human form. If it would be helpful in your language, consider saying this in plain language. Alternate translation: [having become a human being]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων

in ˓the˒_likeness ˱of˲_humans

The word men is emphasizing the idea of Jesus’ humanity rather than his gender. The word men is plural in form to emphasize the idea that Jesus resembled humanity in general. Consider the best way in your language to express this emphasis on Jesus’ humanity. Alternate translation: [in the likeness of human beings]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος

The phrase having been found in appearance as a man does not mean that Jesus appeared to be a man but was not a man. Rather, this phrase continues the thought of the previous phrase, having been born in the likeness of men, and means that Jesus became a human being and therefore was fully human in appearance. The phrase, in appearance, points out that Jesus appeared in all ways to be fully human. It also indicates that while being fully human, Jesus was distinct from the rest of humanity: He retained his full deity while being human and, therefore, he was both human and divine at the same time. Alternate translation: [and while being found in the form of a human being]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄνθρωπος

˓a˒_human

Here the word man is emphasizing the idea of Jesus’ humanity rather than his gender. If your language has a way of expressing this emphasis on Jesus’ humanity, consider using the term that would most clearly express this. See how you translated the word men earlier in this verse. Alternate translation: [a human being]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. but
2. but
3. 2350
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131359
1. himself
2. himself
3. 14380
5. heautou
6. R-···3AMS
7. himself
8. himself
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131360
1. emptied
2. emptied
3. 27580
5. kenoō
6. V-IAA3··S
7. emptied
8. emptied
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131361
1. +the form
2. -
3. 34440
5. morfē
6. N-····AFS
7. ˓the˒ form
8. ˓the˒ form
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131362
1. of +a slave
2. slave
3. 14010
5. doulos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ slave
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ slave
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131363
1. having taken
2. -
3. 29830
5. lambanō
6. V-PAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ taken
8. ˓having˒ taken
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131364
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131365
1. +the likeness
2. -
3. 36670
5. homoiōma
6. N-····DNS
7. ˓the˒ likeness
8. ˓the˒ likeness
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131366
1. of humans
2. -
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····GMP
7. ˱of˲ humans
8. ˱of˲ humans
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131367
1. having become
2. becoming
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-PAM·NMS
7. ˓having˒ become
8. ˓having˒ become
9. -
10. Y64; R131345; Person=Jesus
11. 131369
1. And
2. and Then
3. 25320
4. S
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. S
10. Y64
11. 131370
1. in form
2. -
3. 49760
5. sχēma
6. N-····DNS
7. ˱in˲ form
8. ˱in˲ form
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131371
1. having been found
2. -
3. 21470
5. euriskō
6. V-PAP·NMS
7. ˓having_been˒ found
8. ˓having_been˒ found
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131372
1. as
2. -
3. 56130
5. hōs
6. C-·······
7. as
8. as
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131373
1. +a human
2. -
3. 4440
5. anthrōpos
6. N-····NMS
7. ˓a˒ human
8. ˓a˒ human
9. -
10. Y64
11. 131374

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear PHP 2:7