6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

6 Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

6 Christ himself was like God in everything.

But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.

7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.

He was born as a man

and became like a servant.

8 And when he was living as a man,

he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,

even when that caused his death—death on a cross.

9 So God raised him to the highest place.

God made his name greater than every other name

10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus—

everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,

6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; 7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman’s form, taking his place in the likeness of men; 8 and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal beings,

6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, 

he did not take advantage of this equality. 

7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, 

by becoming like other humans, 

by having a human appearance. 

8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

death on a cross. 

9 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor— 

the name honored above all other names— 

10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, 

and in the world below will kneel 

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

as something to be used for His own advantage.

7 Instead He emptied Himself

by assuming the form of a slave,

taking on the likeness of men.

And when He had come as a man

in His external form,

8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow —

of those who are in heaven and on earth

and under the earth —

6 who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

7 but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

8 he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself

by taking the form of a slave,

by becoming in the likeness of people.

And being found in appearance like a man,

8 he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death,

that is, death on a cross.

9 Therefore also God exalted him

and graciously granted him the name above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth,

6 In his very nature he was God.

But he did not think that being equal with God was something he should hold on to.

7 Instead, he made himself nothing.

He took on the very nature of a servant.

He was made in human form.

8 He appeared as a man.

He came down to the lowest level.

He obeyed God completely, even though it led to his death.

In fact, he died on a cross.

9 So God lifted him up to the highest place.

He gave him the name that is above every name.

10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone’s knee will bow to worship him.

Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him.

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,