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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 4:9 What does "He ascended" mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/49_Eph_04_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 4:9 - Unity in the Body" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="What does He ascended mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ephesians/4-9.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ephesians/4-9.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ephesians/">Ephesians</a> > <a href="/ephesians/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 9</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm" title="Ephesians 4:8">◄</a> Ephesians 4:9 <a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm" title="Ephesians 4:10">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/ephesians/4.htm">New International Version</a> (What does &#8220he ascended&#8221 mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? <a href="/nlt/ephesians/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. <a href="/esv/ephesians/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? <a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/blb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Now what is "He ascended," except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth? <a href="/kjv/ephesians/4.htm">King James Bible</a> (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/nkjv/ephesians/4.htm">New King James Version</a> (Now this, “He ascended” —what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/nasb_/ephesians/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/nasb/ephesians/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> (Now this expression, &#8220He ascended,&#8221 what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/nasb77/ephesians/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/lsb/ephesians/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/amp/ephesians/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/csb/ephesians/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/hcsb/ephesians/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> But what does &#8220He ascended&#8221 mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/asv/ephesians/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/cev/ephesians/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> When it says, "he went up," it means that Christ had been deep in the earth. <a href="/erv/ephesians/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/gwt/ephesians/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Now what does it mean that he went up except that he also had gone down to the lowest parts of the earth? <a href="/gnt/ephesians/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> Now, what does "he went up" mean? It means that first he came down to the lowest depths of the earth. <a href="/isv/ephesians/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gone down into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/msb/ephesians/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> What does ?He ascended? mean, except that He also descended first to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/net/ephesians/4.htm">NET Bible</a> Now what is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth? <a href="/nheb/ephesians/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/wbt/ephesians/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/wey/ephesians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> <a href="/web/ephesians/4.htm">World English Bible</a> Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ephesians/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And that, He went up, what is it except that He also went down first into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/blb/ephesians/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Now what is "He ascended," except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth? <a href="/ylt/ephesians/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/slt/ephesians/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> (And so having ascended, what is it except that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ephesians/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/cpdv/ephesians/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Now that he has ascended, what is left except for him also to descended, first to the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/nabre/ephesians/4.htm">New American Bible</a> What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? <a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the inner parts of the earth? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But that he ascended, what is it but that also he first descended to the lower regions of The Earth?<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/ephesians/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But this?He ascended?what does it mean, but that he also descended into the lower earthly regions? <a href="/godbey/ephesians/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> But what is that which ascended, except that which descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/haweis/ephesians/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Now this, that he ascended, what does it imply? but that he also first descended into the more internal parts of the earth? <a href="/mace/ephesians/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a> now his having ascended, what does it mean, but that he had descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/wey/ephesians/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> <a href="/worrell/ephesians/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Now the word, "He ascended," what does it mean, but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/worsley/ephesians/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Now this expression "He ascended" what does it mean, but that He descended first into the lower parts of the earth? <a href="/parallel/ephesians/4-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=620" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm">Unity in the Body</a> …8This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” 9<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/5101.htm" title="5101: ti (IPro-NNS) -- Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.">What</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">does</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: To (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/305.htm" title="305: Anebē (V-AIA-3S) -- To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up.">“He ascended” mean,</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">except</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">that</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2597.htm" title="2597: katebē (V-AIA-3S) -- To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.">He also descended</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">to</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-ANP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2737.htm" title="2737: katōtera (Adj-ANP-C) -- Lower. Comparative from kato; inferior.">lower</a> <a href="/greek/3313.htm" title="3313: merē (N-ANP) -- A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.">parts</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: gēs (N-GFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.">earth?</a> 10He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/philippians/2-6.htm">Philippians 2:6-8</a> Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. / And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. <a href="/john/3-13.htm">John 3:13</a> No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. <a href="/john/6-38.htm">John 6:38</a> For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a> The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16-17</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. <a href="/hebrews/2-14.htm">Hebrews 2:14-15</a> Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, / and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. <a href="/romans/10-6.htm">Romans 10:6-7</a> But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) / or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” <a href="/acts/2-27.htm">Acts 2:27</a> because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. <a href="/1_peter/3-18.htm">1 Peter 3:18-19</a> For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, / in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison <a href="/matthew/12-40.htm">Matthew 12:40</a> For 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. <a href="/psalms/68-18.htm">Psalm 68:18</a> You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. <a href="/isaiah/53-8.htm">Isaiah 53:8-9</a> By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people. / He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. <a href="/psalms/16-10.htm">Psalm 16:10</a> For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. <a href="/jonah/2-6.htm">Jonah 2:6</a> To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God! <a href="/genesis/37-35.htm">Genesis 37:35</a> All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?he ascended.<a href="/proverbs/30-4.htm">Proverbs 30:4</a> 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?<a href="/john/3-13.htm">John 3:13</a> And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.<a href="/john/6-33.htm">John 6:33,62</a> For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world… he also.<a href="/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5</a> And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.<a href="/exodus/19-20.htm">Exodus 19:20</a> And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.<a href="/john/6-33.htm">John 6:33,38,41,51,58</a> For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world… the lower.<a href="/psalms/8-5.htm">Psalm 8:5</a> For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.<a href="/psalms/63-9.htm">Psalm 63:9</a> But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.<a href="/psalms/139-15.htm">Psalm 139:15</a> My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm">Ascended</a> <a href="/romans/11-22.htm">Descended</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-15.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-1.htm">Earthly</a> <a href="/galatians/6-14.htm">Except</a> <a href="/romans/5-15.htm">Expression</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">First</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm">Lower</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-6.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/galatians/1-21.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/galatians/1-21.htm">Regions</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm">Ascended</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm">Descended</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-3.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-5.htm">Earthly</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-3.htm">Except</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-27.htm">Expression</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-2.htm">First</a> <a href="/colossians/2-23.htm">Lower</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-32.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-16.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/genesis/36-40.htm">Regions</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 4</div>1. <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">He exhorts to unity;</a> 7. <a href="/ephesians/4-7.htm">and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;</a> 11. <a href="/ephesians/4-11.htm">that his church might be edified,</a> 16. <a href="/ephesians/4-16.htm">and grow up in Christ.</a> 18. <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;</a> 24. <a href="/ephesians/4-24.htm">to put on the new man;</a> 25. <a href="/ephesians/4-25.htm">to cast off lying;</a> 29. <a href="/ephesians/4-29.htm">and corrupt communication.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The ascension signifies Christ's exaltation and His return to the Father after completing His earthly ministry. It fulfills Old Testament prophecies such as <a href="/psalms/68-18.htm">Psalm 68:18</a>, which speaks of God ascending on high. The ascension is a key event in Christian theology, marking the transition from Christ's earthly work to His heavenly intercession.except that He also descended This part of the verse highlights the necessity of Christ's descent before His ascension. The descent is often interpreted as His incarnation, where He came down from heaven to live as a man on earth (<a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>). Some interpretations also consider this descent as His going to the realm of the dead, as suggested in <a href="/1_peter/3-18.htm">1 Peter 3:18-20</a>, where Christ is said to have preached to the spirits in prison. This descent emphasizes His humility and willingness to fully engage with the human condition.to the lower parts of the earth? This phrase can be understood in several ways. Traditionally, it has been seen as a reference to Christ's burial and His presence in the grave, aligning with the Apostles' Creed's mention of His descent into hell. It can also be interpreted as His coming to earth from heaven, emphasizing the depth of His condescension. The "lower parts of the earth" may also symbolize the realm of the dead, where Christ proclaimed victory over sin and death. This connects to the broader biblical narrative of redemption and Christ's ultimate triumph over evil.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> Central to this verse, Jesus is the one who "ascended" and "descended." His actions are pivotal in understanding His mission and authority. 2. <a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a> The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul is explaining the significance of Christ's ascension and descent. 3. <a href="/topical/e/ephesus.htm">Ephesus</a> The city to which the letter is addressed, a major center of early Christianity in Asia Minor. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_lower_parts_of_the_earth.htm">The Lower Parts of the Earth</a> This phrase is often interpreted as referring to Christ's descent to the earth in His incarnation or His descent into Hades after His crucifixion. 5. <a href="/topical/a/ascension.htm">Ascension</a> Refers to Christ's return to heaven after His resurrection, signifying His victory and authority.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_christ's_humility_and_exaltation.htm">Understanding Christ's Humility and Exaltation</a> Christ's descent signifies His humility and willingness to become human for our salvation. His ascent demonstrates His victory and authority over all things. <a href="/topical/t/the_fullness_of_christ's_mission.htm">The Fullness of Christ's Mission</a> Recognize that Christ's mission involved both coming to earth and returning to heaven, completing the work of redemption. <a href="/topical/l/living_in_light_of_christ's_authority.htm">Living in Light of Christ's Authority</a> As believers, we are called to live under the authority of the ascended Christ, who empowers us through His Spirit. <a href="/topical/t/the_hope_of_resurrection.htm">The Hope of Resurrection</a> Christ's descent and ascent assure us of our future resurrection and eternal life with Him. <a href="/topical/u/unity_in_the_body_of_christ.htm">Unity in the Body of Christ</a> Paul's discussion in <a href="/bsb/ephesians/4.htm">Ephesians 4</a> emphasizes unity, which is grounded in the work of Christ who descended and ascended for all believers.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9, 10) These verses form a parenthesis, designed to bring out the pervading idea of this and the parallel Epistle--the Divine humanity of Christ as "filling all in all" and "gathering all things" into Himself.(9) The lower parts of the earth.--This may mean either the regions of the earth, as "lower" than heaven, or the regions beneath the earth. The reasoning of the text in itself would be satisfied by the former. For St. Paul is simply arguing that the use of the phrase "ascended" from earth to heaven implies a previous corresponding descent, which must be from heaven to earth; exactly as in <a href="/john/3-13.htm" title="And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.">John 3:13</a>, "No man hath ascended into heaven, but He that came down from heaven." But form and usage of the phrase itself seem to point to the other meaning, which is held by almost all ancient interpreters and most moderns. It agrees with the strong expression of "filling all things," in <a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm" title="He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)">Ephesians 4:10</a>, and is possibly suggested by the leading captive of the powers of hell and death. Though, perhaps, injurious to the strictness of the antithesis, it is quite accordant with St. Paul's manner to introduce thus a fresh idea beyond the simple idea of descent, which is sufficient for his argument: "He descended--yea, even to the realms below." For this idea is most apposite to that frequent reference to spiritual powers of evil found in this Epistle, and it may be thought to correspond by antithesis to the "far above all heavens" of the next verse.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 9. - Now (the fact) that he ascended, what does it imply but that he descended first? The ascent implied a previous descent; that is, the ascent of the Son of God - of one who was himself in heaven, who was in the bosom of the Father (comp. <a href="/john/3-13.htm">John 3:13</a>), implied that he had come down from heaven, a striking proof of his interest in and love for the children of men. And the descent was net merely to the ordinary condition of humanity, but to a more than ordinarily degraded condition, not merely to the surface of the earth, but to the lower parts of the earth. This has sometimes been interpreted of Hades, but surely without reason. If the expression denotes more than Christ's humble condition, it probably means the grave. This was the climax of Christ's humiliation; to be removed out of men's sight, as too offensive for them to look on - to be hidden away in the depths of the earth, in the grave, was indeed supremely humbling. The object is to show that, in bestowing gifts on men, Christ did not merely bring into play his inherent bountifulness as the Son of God, but acted as Mediator, by right of special purchase, through his work of humiliation on earth; and thus to lead us to think the more highly both of the Giver and of his gifts. <a href="/commentaries/ephesians/4-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>What τί (ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5101.htm">Strong's 5101: </a> Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. [does] ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. “He ascended” [mean], Ἀνέβη (Anebē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_305.htm">Strong's 305: </a> To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up. except εἰ (ei) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. He also descended κατέβη (katebē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2597.htm">Strong's 2597: </a> To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend. to εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. the τὰ (ta) Article - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. lower κατώτερα (katōtera) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - Comparative <a href="/greek/strongs_2737.htm">Strong's 2737: </a> Lower. Comparative from kato; inferior. parts μέρη (merē) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3313.htm">Strong's 3313: </a> A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share. of the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. earth? γῆς (gēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1093.htm">Strong's 1093: </a> Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ephesians/4-9.htm">Ephesians 4:9 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-9.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 4:9 Now this He ascended what is it (Ephes. 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