Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Ephesians 4:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse         Translation Text
Eph 4:8 Strong Concordance Wherefore [1352] he saith [3004], When he ascended [305] up [1519] on high [5311], he led captivity [162] captive [161], and [2532] gave [1325] gifts [1390] unto men [444].
  King James Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All
 
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Wherefore--"For which reason," namely, in order to intimate that Christ, the Head of the Church, is the author of all these different gifts, and that giving of them is an act of His "grace" [ESTIUS].

he saith--God, whose word the Scripture is (Psa 68:18).

When he ascended--GOD is meant in the Psalm, represented by the ark, which was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David, after that "the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies" (2Sa. 6:1-7:1; 1Ch. 15:1-29). Paul quotes it of CHRIST ascending to heaven, who is therefore GOD.

captivity--that is, a band of captives. In the Psalm, the captive foes of David. In the antitypical meaning, the foes of Christ the Son of David, the devil, death, the curse, and sin (Col 2:15; Pe2 2:4), led as it were in triumphal procession as a sign of the destruction of the foe.

gave gifts unto men--in the Psalm, "received gifts for men," Hebrew, "among men," that is, "thou hast received gifts" to distribute among men. As a conqueror distributes in token of his triumph the spoils of foes as gifts among his people. The impartation of the gifts and graces of the Spirit depended on Christ's ascension (Joh 7:39; Joh 14:12). Paul stops short in the middle of the verse, and does not quote "that the Lord God might dwell among them." This, it is true, is partly fulfilled in Christians being an "habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). But the Psalm (Psa 68:16) refers to "the Lord dwelling in Zion for ever"; the ascension amidst attendant angels, having as its counterpart the second advent amidst "thousands of angels" (Psa 68:17), accompanied by the restoration of Israel (Psa 68:22), the destruction of God's enemies and the resurrection (Psa 68:20-21, Psa 68:23), the conversion of the kingdoms of the world to the Lord at Jerusalem (Psa 68:29-34).
 
Top
29 Because of thy temple [01964] at Jerusalem [03389] shall kings [04428] bring [02986] presents [07862] unto thee.
30 Rebuke [01605] the company [02416] of spearmen [07070], the multitude [05712] of the bulls [047], with the calves [05695] of the people [05971], till every one submit [07511] himself with pieces [07518] of silver [03701]: scatter [0967] thou the people [05971] that delight [02654] in war [07128].
31 Princes [02831] shall come out [0857] of Egypt [04714]; Ethiopia [03568] shall soon stretch out [07323] her hands [03027] unto God [0430].
32 Sing [07891] unto God [0430], ye kingdoms [04467] of the earth [0776]; O sing praises [02167] unto the Lord [0136]; Selah [05542]:
33 To him that rideth [07392] upon the heavens [08064] of heavens [08064], which were of old [06924]; lo, he doth send out [05414] his voice [06963], and that a mighty [05797] voice [06963].
34 Ascribe [05414] ye strength [05797] unto God [0430]: his excellency [01346] is over Israel [03478], and his strength [05797] is in the clouds [07834].
23 That thy foot [07272] may be dipped [04272] in the blood [01818] of thine enemies [0341], and the tongue [03956] of thy dogs [03611] in the same.
20 He that is our God [0410] is the God [0410] of salvation [04190]; and unto GOD [03069] the Lord [0136] belong the issues [08444] from death [04194].
21 But God [0430] shall wound [04272] the head [07218] of his enemies [0341], and the hairy [08181] scalp [06936] of such an one as goeth on still [01980] in his trespasses [0817].
22 The Lord [0136] said [0559], I will bring again [07725] from Bashan [01316], I will bring my people again [07725] from the depths [04688] of the sea [03220]:
17 The chariots [07393] of God [0430] are twenty thousand [07239], even thousands [0505] of angels [08136]: the Lord [0136] is among them, as in Sinai [05514], in the holy [06944] place.
16 Why leap [07520] ye, ye high [01386] hills [02022]? this is the hill [02022] which God [0430] desireth [02530] to dwell in [03427]; yea, the LORD [03068] will dwell [07931] in it for ever [05331].
22 In [1722] whom [3739] ye [5210] also [2532] are builded together [4925] for [1519] an habitation [2732] of God [2316] through [1722] the Spirit [4151].
12 Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], He that believeth [4100] on [1519] me [1691], the works [2041] that [3739] I [1473] do [4160] shall he do [4160] also [2548]; and [2532] greater works than [3187] these [5130] shall he do [4160]; because [3754] I [1473] go [4198] unto [4314] my [3450] Father [3962].
39 (But [1161] this [5124] spake he [2036] of [4012] the Spirit [4151], which [3739] they that believe [4100] on [1519] him [846] should [3195] receive [2983]: for [1063] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] was [2258] not yet [3768] given; because [3754] that Jesus [2424] was [1392] not yet [3764] glorified [1392]
4 For [1063] if [1487] God [2316] spared [5339] not [3756] the angels [32] that sinned [264], but [235] cast them down to hell [5020], and delivered [3860] them into chains [4577] of darkness [2217], to be reserved [5083] unto [1519] judgment [2920];
15 And having spoiled [554] principalities [746] and [2532] powers [1849], he made a shew of them [1165] openly [1722] [3954], triumphing over [2358] them [846] in [1722] it [846].
18 Thou hast ascended [05927] on high [04791], thou hast led captivity [07628] captive [07617]: thou hast received [03947] gifts [04979] for men [0120]; yea, for the rebellious [05637] also, that the LORD [03050] God [0430] might dwell [07931] among them.
11 And [2532] he [846] gave [1325] some [3303], apostles [652]; and [1161] some, prophets [4396]; and [1161] some, evangelists [2099]; and [1161] some, pastors [4166] and [2532] teachers [1320];
30 Have they not sped [04672]? have they not divided [02505] the prey [07998]; to every [07218] man [01397] a damsel [07356] or two [07361]; to Sisera [05516] a prey [07998] of divers colours [06648], a prey [07998] of divers colours [06648] of needlework [07553], of divers colours [06648] of needlework on both sides [07553], meet for the necks [06677] of them that take the spoil [07998]?
22 And [2532] hath put [5293] all [3956] things under [5259] his [846] feet [4228], and [2532] gave [1325] him [846] to be the head [2776] over [5228] all [3956] things to the church [1577],
23 Which [3748] is [2076] his [846] body [4983], the fulness [4138] of him that filleth [4137] all [3956] in [1722] all [3956].
16 Then [5119] Herod [2264], when he saw [1492] that [3754] he was mocked [1702] of [5259] the wise men [3097], was exceeding [3029] wroth [2373], and [2532] sent forth [649], and slew [337] all [3956] the children [3816] that were in [1722] Bethlehem [965], and [2532] in [1722] all [3956] the coasts [3725] thereof [846], from [575] two years old [1332] and [2532] under [2736], according [2596] to the time [5550] which [3739] he had diligently enquired [198] of [3844] the wise men [3097].
17 For [1063] therein [1722] [846] is [601] the righteousness [1343] of God [2316] revealed [601] from [1537] faith [4102] to [1519] faith [4102]: as [2531] it is written [1125], [1161] The just [1342] shall live [2198] by [1537] faith [4102].
6 But [1161] one [5100] in a certain place [4225] testified [1263], saying [3004], What [5101] is [2076] man [444], that [3754] thou art mindful [3403] of him [846]? or [2228] the son [5207] of man [444], that [3754] thou visitest [1980] him [846]?
5 For [1063] unto which [5101] of the angels [32] said he [2036] at any time [4218], Thou [4771] art [1488] my [3450] Son [5207], this day [4594] have [1080] I [1473] begotten [1080] thee [4571]? And [2532] again [3825], I [1473] will be [2071] to [1519] him [846] a Father [3962], and [2532] he [846] shall be [2071] to [1519] me [3427] a Son [5207]?
18 Having the understanding [1271] darkened [4654], being [5607] alienated [526] from the life [2222] of God [2316] through [1223] the ignorance [52] that is [5607] in [1722] them [846], because [1223] of the blindness [4457] of their [846] heart [2588]:
16 From [1537] whom [3739] the whole [3956] body [4983] fitly joined together [4883] and [2532] compacted [4822] by [1223] that which every [3956] joint [860] supplieth [2024], according [2596] to the effectual working [1753] in [1722] the measure [3358] of every [1538] part [1520] [3313], maketh [4160] increase [838] of the body [4983] unto [1519] the edifying [3619] of itself [1438] in [1722] love [26].
14 That [2443] we henceforth be [5600] no more [3371] children [3516], tossed to and fro [2831], and [2532] carried about with [4064] every [3956] wind [417] of doctrine [1319], by [1722] the sleight [2940] of men [444], and cunning craftiness [1722] [3834], whereby [4314] they lie in wait [3180] to deceive [4106];
13 Till [3360] we all [3956] come [2658] in [1519] the unity [1775] of the faith [4102], and [2532] of the knowledge [1922] of the Son [5207] of God [2316], unto [1519] a perfect [5046] man [435], unto [1519] the measure [3358] of the stature [2244] of the fulness [4138] of Christ [5547]:
7 But [1161] unto every [1538] one [1520] of us [2257] is given [1325] grace [5485] according to [2596] the measure [3358] of the gift [1431] of Christ [5547].
8 Wherefore [1352] he saith [3004], When he ascended [305] up [1519] on high [5311], he led captivity [162] captive [161], and [2532] gave [1325] gifts [1390] unto men [444].
9 (Now [1161] that he ascended [305], what [5101] is it [2076] but [1508] that [3754] he [2597] also [2532] descended [2597] first [4412] into [1519] the lower [2737] parts [3313] of the earth [1093]?
10 He [846] that descended [2597] is [2076] the same also [2532] that ascended up [305] far above [5231] all [3956] heavens [3772], that [2443] he might fill [4137] all things [3956].)
11 And [2532] he [846] gave [1325] some [3303], apostles [652]; and [1161] some, prophets [4396]; and [1161] some, evangelists [2099]; and [1161] some, pastors [4166] and [2532] teachers [1320];
12 For [4314] the perfecting [2677] of the saints [40], for [1519] the work [2041] of the ministry [1248], for [1519] the edifying [3619] of the body [4983] of Christ [5547]:
1 I [1473] therefore [3767], the prisoner [1198] of [1722] the Lord [2962], beseech [3870] you [5209] that ye walk [4043] worthy [516] of the vocation [2821] wherewith [3739] ye are called [2564],
2 With [3326] all [3956] lowliness [5012] and [2532] meekness [4236], with [3326] longsuffering [3115], forbearing [430] one another [240] in [1722] love [26];
3 Endeavouring [4704] to keep [5083] the unity [1775] of the Spirit [4151] in [1722] the bond [4886] of peace [1515].
4 There is one [1520] body [4983], and [2532] one [1520] Spirit [4151], even as [2531] [2532] ye are called [2564] in [1722] one [3391] hope [1680] of your [5216] calling [2821];
5 One [1520] Lord [2962], one [1520] faith [4102], one [3391] baptism [908],
6 One [1520] God [2316] and [2532] Father [3962] of all [3956], who [3588] is above [1909] all [3956], and [2532] through [1223] all [3956], and [2532] in [1722] you [5213] all [3956].
1 Again, David [01732] gathered together [0622] [03254] all the chosen [0977] men of Israel [03478], thirty [07970] thousand [0505].
18 Thou hast ascended [05927] on high [04791], thou hast led captivity [07628] captive [07617]: thou hast received [03947] gifts [04979] for men [0120]; yea, for the rebellious [05637] also, that the LORD [03050] God [0430] might dwell [07931] among them.
11 And [2532] he [846] gave [1325] some [3303], apostles [652]; and [1161] some, prophets [4396]; and [1161] some, evangelists [2099]; and [1161] some, pastors [4166] and [2532] teachers [1320];
33 Therefore [3767] being [5312] by the right hand [1188] of God [2316] exalted [5312], and [5037] having received [2983] of [3844] the Father [3962] the promise [1860] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], he hath shed forth [1632] this [5124], which [3739] ye [5210] now [3568] see [991] and [2532] hear [191].
20 And thou shalt command [06680] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], that they bring [03947] thee pure [02134] oil [08081] olive [02132] beaten [03795] for the light [03974], to cause the lamp [05216] to burn [05927] always [08548].
5 And I will fetch [03947] a morsel [06595] of bread [03899], and comfort ye [05582] your hearts [03820]; after that [0310] ye shall pass on [05674]: for therefore are ye come [05674] to [05921] your servant [05650]. And they said [01696], So do [06213], as thou hast said [0559].
9 And he said [0559] unto him, Take [03947] me an heifer [05697] of three years old [08027], and a she goat [05795] of three years old [08027], and a ram [0352] of three years old [08027], and a turtledove [08449], and a young pigeon [01469].
14 Now [1161] thanks [5485] be unto God [2316], which always [3842] causeth [2358] us [2248] to triumph [2358] in [1722] Christ [5547], and [2532] maketh manifest [5319] the savour [3744] of his [846] knowledge [1108] by [1223] us [2257] in [1722] every [3956] place [5117].
15 And having spoiled [554] principalities [746] and [2532] powers [1849], he made a shew of them [1165] openly [1722] [3954], triumphing over [2358] them [846] in [1722] it [846].
18 The Spirit [4151] of the Lord [2962] is upon [1909] me [1691], because [1752] he hath anointed [5548] me [3165] to preach the gospel [2097] to the poor [4434]; he hath sent [649] me [3165] to heal [2390] the brokenhearted [4937] [2588], to preach [2784] deliverance [859] to the captives [164], and [2532] recovering of sight [309] to the blind [5185], to set [649] at [1722] liberty [859] them that are bruised [2352],
19 Blessed [01288] be the Lord [0136], who daily [03117] [03117] loadeth [06006] us with benefits, even the God [0410] of our salvation [03444]. Selah [05542].
18 Thou hast ascended [05927] on high [04791], thou hast led captivity [07628] captive [07617]: thou hast received [03947] gifts [04979] for men [0120]; yea, for the rebellious [05637] also, that the LORD [03050] God [0430] might dwell [07931] among them.
18 Thou hast ascended [05927] on high [04791], thou hast led captivity [07628] captive [07617]: thou hast received [03947] gifts [04979] for men [0120]; yea, for the rebellious [05637] also, that the LORD [03050] God [0430] might dwell [07931] among them.