Ephesians 4:9

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Now what is the meaning of“he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • John 3:13 : 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven– the Son of Man.
  • John 6:33 : 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
  • Ps 63:9 : 9 Enemies seek to destroy my life, but they will descend into the depths of the earth.
  • Ps 139:15 : 15 my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
  • Matt 12:40 : 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
  • Gen 11:5 : 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the people had started building.
  • Exod 19:20 : 20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the LORD summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
  • Ps 8:5 : 5 You made them a little less than the heavenly beings. You crowned mankind with honor and majesty.
  • Prov 30:4 : 4 Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you can know!
  • Isa 44:23 : 23 Shout for joy, O sky, for the LORD intervenes; shout out, you subterranean regions of the earth. O mountains, give a joyful shout; you too, O forest and all your trees! For the LORD protects Jacob; he reveals his splendor through Israel.
  • John 6:38 : 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
  • John 6:41 : 41 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said,“I am the bread that came down from heaven,”
  • John 6:51 : 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
  • John 6:58 : 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”
  • John 6:62 : 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?
  • John 8:14 : 14 Jesus answered,“Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going.
  • John 16:27-28 : 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
  • John 20:17 : 17 Jesus replied,“Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
  • Acts 2:34-36 : 34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,‘The Lord said to my lord,“Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
  • Heb 2:7 : 7 You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.
  • Heb 2:9 : 9 but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eph 4:10-12
    3 verses
    89%

    10He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

    11And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

    12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,

  • Eph 4:7-8
    2 verses
    85%

    7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

    8Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”

  • Rom 10:6-7
    2 verses
    76%

    6But the righteousness that is by faith says:“Do not say in your heart,‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down)

    7or“Who will descend into the abyss?”(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

  • John 3:13
    75%

    13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven– the Son of Man.

  • Phil 2:7-10
    4 verses
    73%

    7but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.

    8He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross!

    9As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

    10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow– in heaven and on earth and under the earth–

  • Eph 1:20-23
    4 verses
    72%

    20This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

    21far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

    22And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things.

    23Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

  • Ps 68:18
    71%

    18You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the LORD God lives there!

  • Heb 2:7-9
    3 verses
    70%

    7You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.

    8You put all things under his control.” For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control,

    9but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.

  • 1 Thess 4:16
    70%

    16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

  • John 3:31
    70%

    31The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.

  • Acts 2:33-34
    2 verses
    70%

    33So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

    34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,‘The Lord said to my lord,“Sit at my right hand

  • Ps 18:9
    69%

    9He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

  • 1 Cor 15:27
    69%

    27For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says“everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.

  • John 6:62
    69%

    62Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?

  • Eph 2:6
    69%

    6and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

  • 1 Pet 3:22
    69%

    22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

  • 2 Sam 22:10
    69%

    10He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

  • Eph 1:10
    68%

    10toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth.

  • Col 3:1
    68%

    1Exhortations to Seek the Things Above Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

  • 1 Pet 3:19
    68%

    19In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

  • Ps 139:8
    68%

    8If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.

  • Col 1:18
    68%

    18He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

  • Ps 63:9
    67%

    9Enemies seek to destroy my life, but they will descend into the depths of the earth.

  • Heb 9:24
    67%

    24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands– the representation of the true sanctuary– but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

  • Eph 3:9-10
    2 verses
    67%

    9and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.

    10The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.

  • Acts 1:9
    67%

    9After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.

  • Eph 2:1
    67%

    1New Life Individually And although you were dead in your offenses and sins,

  • Col 2:15
    67%

    15Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

  • Ps 113:6
    67%

    6He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.

  • Col 1:20
    67%

    20and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross– through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

  • Rom 14:9
    67%

    9For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

  • Jas 4:10
    67%

    10Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

  • 1 Cor 15:4
    67%

    4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,

  • Eph 2:17-18
    2 verses
    67%

    17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,

    18so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

  • John 1:51
    66%

    51He continued,“I tell all of you the solemn truth– you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”