Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
And what is the ascended, except that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
New American Standard Bible
(Now this expression, “He
King James Version
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Holman Bible
But what does “He ascended” mean except that He
International Standard Version
Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gone down into the lower parts of the earth?
American Standard Version
(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Amplified
(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?
An Understandable Version
(But what does "He ascended" mean if not that He also [first] descended to the lower parts of the earth [i.e., to the earth below]? [Note: Of the three principal interpretations given to this verse: a) Christ descended to earth, b) Christ descended to the grave, c) Christ descended to Mary's womb. The first is to be preferred. See John 3:13; 6:38, 62].
Anderson New Testament
But this He ascended what does it mean, but that he also descended into the lower earthly regions?
Bible in Basic English
(Now this, He went up, what is it but that he first went down into the lower parts of the earth?
Common New Testament
(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean except that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Daniel Mace New Testament
now his having ascended, what does it mean, but that he had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Darby Translation
But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Godbey New Testament
But what is that which ascended, except that which descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Goodspeed New Testament
What does "he went up" mean, except that he had first gone down to the under parts of the earth?
John Wesley New Testament
(Now that he ascended, what is it, but that he also descended first to the lower parts of the earth?
Julia Smith Translation
(And so having ascended, what is it except that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
King James 2000
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Now "he ascended," what is [it], except that he also descended to the lower regions of the earth?
Modern King James verseion
(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
That he ascended: what meaneth it, but that he also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth?
Moffatt New Testament
What does he ascended mean, except that he first descended to the nether regions of the earth?
Montgomery New Testament
Now surely this "he ascended" implies that he also descended into the lower part of the earth.
NET Bible
Now what is the meaning of "he ascended," except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?
New Heart English Bible
Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Noyes New Testament
Now what is implied in his ascending, but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Sawyer New Testament
But this, that he ascended, what is it but that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
The Emphasized Bible
Now this, He ascended; what is it, - save - that he also descended into the under parts of the earth?
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Now this, that he ascended, what does it imply? but that he also first descended into the more internal parts of the earth?
Twentieth Century New Testament
Now surely this 'going up' must imply that he had already gone down into the world beneath.
Webster
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Weymouth New Testament
(Now this "re-ascended" --what does it mean but that He had first descended into the lower regions of the earth?
Williams New Testament
What does "He went up" mean, except that He had first gone down into the lower regions of the earth?
World English Bible
Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Worrell New Testament
Now the word, "He ascended," what does it mean, but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Worsley New Testament
Now this expression "He ascended" what does it mean, but that He descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Youngs Literal Translation
and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?
Themes
Edification » What Christ provided for the purpose of edification
Interlinear
De
ὅτι
Hoti
Usage: 764
Anabaino
me
Katabaino
Katabaino
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Ephesians 4:9
Prayers for Ephesians 4:9
Verse Info
Context Readings
Gifted Leaders Bring The Church To Maturity
8 Therefore he says, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. 9 And what is the ascended, except that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the same man who ascended high above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.
Cross References
John 3:13
And no man has ascended into heaven, except he who came down out of heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven.
John 6:33
For the bread of God is he who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.
Psalm 63:9
but those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-creature three days and three nights, so the Son of man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
Genesis 11:5
And LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men built.
Exodus 19:20
And LORD came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount. And LORD called Moses to the top of the mount, and Moses went up.
Psalm 8:5
For thou have made him but little lower than [heavenly] agents, and crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 139:15
My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Proverbs 30:4
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou k
Isaiah 44:23
Sing, O ye heavens, for LORD has done it. Shout, ye lower parts of the earth. Break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein. For LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
John 6:38
Because I have come down from heaven, not so that I might do my will, but the will of him who sent me.
John 6:41
The Jews therefore murmured about him because he said, I am the bread that came down out of heaven.
John 6:51
I am the living bread, having come down out of heaven. If any man eats of this bread, he will live into the age. And also, the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:58
This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live into the age.
John 6:62
Then if ye should see the Son of man ascending where he was before?
John 8:14
Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I might testify about myself, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I go, but ye do not know where I come from and where I go.
John 16:27-28
for the Father himself loves you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
John 20:17
Jesus says to her, Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
Acts 2:34-36
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand
Hebrews 2:7
Thou made him a little something less than the heavenly agents. Thou crowned him with glory and honor.
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus who has been made a little something less than the heavenly agents, who, because of the suffering of death, has been crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God he would taste of death for every man.