The Meaning of Philippians 2:9 Explained

Philippians 2:9

KJV: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

YLT: wherefore, also, God did highly exalt him, and gave to him a name that is above every name,

Darby: Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name,

ASV: Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore  God  also  hath highly exalted  him,  and  given  him  a name  which  is above  every  name: 

What does Philippians 2:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In view of the Son"s submission to the depths of humiliation, God the Father raised Him to the height of exaltation. He literally super-exalted (Gr. hyperypsosen) Him. This process included Jesus" resurrection, ascension, and glorification in heaven.
The name that the Father has given to Jesus that is above every name is evidently "Lord Jesus," as the following two verses suggest. [1]
". . . it is not merely the possession of status but rather the use of status or power for the benefit of others which should be honored in congregations today." [2]

Context Summary

Philippians 2:1-11 - Following His Example Of Self-Surrender
In all Scripture-indeed, in all literature-there is no passage which combines such extraordinary extremes as this. The Apostle opens the golden compasses of his faith, placing one jeweled point on the throne of divine glory and the other at the edge of the pit, where the Cross stood; and then he asks us to measure the vast descent of the Son of God as He came down to help us. Mark the seven steps: He was in the form of God, that is, as much God as He was afterward a servant; being in the form of God"¦ took the form of a servant. He was certainly the latter and equally so the former. He did not grasp at equality with God, for it was already His. He emptied Himself, that is, refused to avail Himself of the use of His divine attributes, that He might teach the meaning of absolute dependence on the Father. He obeyed as a servant the laws which had their source in Himself. He became man-a humble man, a dying man, a crucified man. He lay in the grave. But the meaning of His descent was that of His ascent, and to all His illustrious names is now added that of Jesus-Savior. This must be our model. This mind must be in us. In proportion as we become humbled and crucified, we, in our small measure, shall attain the power of blessing and saving men. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 2

1  Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12  to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16  and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God
19  He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also

Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:9

Wherefore [διο]
Because of which act of voluntary and supreme humility. [source]
Highly exalted [υπερυπσωσε]
First aorist indicative of υπερυπσοω — huperupsoō Here only in N.T. Because of Christ‘s voluntary humiliation God lifted him above or beyond What name is that? Apparently and naturally the name Jesus, which is given in Phlippians 2:10. Some think it is “Jesus Christ,” some “Lord,” some the ineffable name Jehovah, some merely dignity and honour. [source]
The name which is above every name [το ονομα το υπερ παν ονομα]
What name is that? Apparently and naturally the name [source]
Jesus []
, which is given in Phlippians 2:10. Some think it is “Jesus Christ,” some “Lord,” some the ineffable name Jehovah, some merely dignity and honour. [source]
Wherefore [διό]
In consequence of this humiliation. [source]
Hath highly exalted [ὑπερύψωσεν]
Lit., exalted above. Compare Matthew 23:12. [source]
Hath given [ἐχαρίσατο]
Freely bestowed, even as Jesus freely offered Himself to humiliation: [source]
A name []
Rev., correctly, the name. This expression is differently explained: either the particular name given to Christ, as Jesus or Lord; or name is taken in the sense of dignity or glory, which is a common Old-Testament usage, and occurs in Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:4. Under the former explanation a variety of names are proposed, as Son of God, Lord, God, Christ Jesus. The sense of the personal name Jesus seems to meet all the conditions, and the personal sense is the simpler, since Jesus occurs immediately after with the word name, and again Jesus Christ in Phlippians 2:11. The name Jesus was bestowed on Christ at the beginning of His humiliation, but prophetically as the One who should save His people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. It was the personal name of others besides; but if that is an objection here, it is equally an objection in Phlippians 2:10. The dignity is expressed by above every name. He bears the name in His glory. See Acts 9:5. See on Matthew 1:21. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 2:9 mean?

Therefore also - God Him highly exalted and granted to Him the name - above every
Διὸ καὶ Θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν

καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ὑπερύψωσεν  highly  exalted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὑπερυψόω  
Sense: metaph.
ἐχαρίσατο  granted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χαρίζομαι  
Sense: to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favour to, gratify.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὄνομα  name 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπὲρ  above 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπέρ 
Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
πᾶν  every 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.