Ephesians 4 · Verse 9

Ephesians 4:9

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:9, King James Version

Ephesians 4:9 in other translations

BSB	What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
WEB	Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
ASV	(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
YLT	and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?
DARBY	But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
BBE	(Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth?
Webster	Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

What does Ephesians 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. Paul reasons that (assuming Him to be God) His ascent implies a previous descent; and that the language of the Psalm can only refer to Christ, who first descended, then ascended. For God the Father does not ascend or descend. Yet the Psalm plainly refers to God (Ep 4:8, 17, 18). It must therefore be God the Son (Joh 6:33, 62). As He declares (Joh 3:13), "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven." Others, though they did not previously descend, have ascended; but none save Christ can be referred to in the Psalm as having done so; for it is of God it speaks. lower parts of the earth--The antithesis or contrast to "far above all heavens," is the argument of Alford and others, to show that this phrase means more than simply the earth, namely, the regions beneath it, even as He ascended not merely to the visible heavens, but "far above" them. Moreover, His design "that He might fill all things" (Ep 4:10, Greek, "the whole universe of things") may imply the same. But see on Ep 4:10 on those words. Also the leading "captive" of the "captive hand" ("captivity") of satanic powers, may imply that the warfare reached to their habitation itself (Psa 63:9). Christ, as Lord of all, took possession first of the earth the unseen world beneath it (some conjecture that the region of the lost is in the central parts of our globe), then of heaven (Ac 2:27, 28). However, all we surely know is, that His soul at death descended to Hades, that is, underwent the ordinary condition of departed spirits of men. The leading captive of satanic powers here, is not said to be at His descent, but at His ascension; so that no argument can be drawn from it for a descent to the abodes of Satan. Ac 2:27, 28, and Ro 10:7, favor the view of the reference being simply to His descent to Hades. So Pearson in Exposition of the Creed (Php 2:10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. Now that he ascended. That is, it is affirmed in the Psalm that he ascended--"Thou hast ascended on high." This implies that there must have been a previous descent; or, as applicable to the Messiah, "it is a truth that he previously descended." It is by no means certain that Paul meant to say that the word "ascended" demonstrated that there must have been a previous descent; but he probably means, that in the case of Christ there was, in fact, a descent into the lower parts of the earth first. The language here used will appropriately express his decent to earth.

Into the lower parts of the earth. To the lowest state of humiliation. This seems to be the fair meaning of the words. Heaven stands opposed to earth. One is above; the other is beneath. From the one, Christ descended to the other; and he came not only to the earth, but he stooped to the most humble condition of humanity here. See Php 2:6-8. Comp. Isa 44:23. Some have understood this of the grave; others of the region of departed spirits; but these interpretations do not seem to be necessary. It is the earth itself that stands in contrast with the heavens; and the idea is, that the Redeemer descended from his lofty eminence in heaven, and became a man of humble rank and condition. Comp. Ps 139:15.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 But that he also descended - The meaning of the apostle appears to be this: The person who ascended is the Messiah, and his ascension plainly intimates his descension; that is, his incarnation, humiliation, death, and resurrection.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16

Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 4:7-16 →

Ephesians 4:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὸto<the>G3588

δὲdeAndG1161

ἀνέβη,anebēHe ascended,G305

τίtiwhatG5101

ἐστινestinis [this]G1510

εἰeionlyG1487

μὴmēexceptG3361

ὅτιhotithatG3754

καὶkaialsoG2532

κατέβηkatebēHe descendedG2597

πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὰtatheG3588

κατώτεραkatōteralowerG2737

μέρηmerēregionsG3313

τῆςtēsof theG3588

γῆς;gēsearth?G1093

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 4:9

John 3:13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
John 6:33
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Psalms 63:9
But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
John 6:58
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Isaiah 44:23
Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Psalms 8:5
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
John 16:27-28
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 20:17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Psalms 139:15
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he ascended.
Pr 30:4; Joh 3:13; 6:33,62; 20:17; Ac 2:34-36
he also.
Ge 11:5; Ex 19:20; Joh 6:33,38,41,51,58; 8:14; 16:27,28
the lower.
Ps 8:5; 63:9; 139:15; Mt 12:40; Heb 2:7,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:9
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	(Y que subió, ¿qué es, sino que también había descendido primero á las partes más bajas de la tierra?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or, qu’il soit monté, qu’est-ce, sinon qu’il est aussi descendu dans les parties inférieures de la terre?
German Elberfelder 1871	Das aber: Er ist hinaufgestiegen, was ist es anders, als daß er auch hinabgestiegen ist in die unteren Teile der Erde?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quod autem ascendit, quid est, nisi quia et descendit primum in inferiores partes terræ?