that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, [ASV] Phil 2:10
ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι ᾿Ιησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων,
{so that} in the name {of Jesus} every knee {should bend} {of heavenly beings} and {of earthly beings} and {of under the earth beings}
From the last Gem, here are the three challenges before us:
- What is the Name, the Name above all names is referring to?
- What could Paul mean by using the strange construction “bowing in the name of Jesus”?
- What inference we should draw as result of Paul’s use of the Greek which leads the literal versions to insert “things” instead of people?
I will approach these challenges in reverse order for the simple reason the last one is the easiest. So we will tackle the easiest first and then move on to the harder one. Lastly dealing with the matter of the Name above all names at the right time, when Paul brings it up.
every knee should bow,
of beings in heaven and
of beings on earth and
of beings under the earth,
“Every knee shall bow” – just how far do we take this notion of the bowing of knees?
The way Paul has constructed this sentence leads me to wonder for the first time if God hasn’t inspired Paul to put this statement in such a way that it hints at a scene of grandeur far greater than we imagine. Let me unpack it for you. You have seen already from what I wrote in the last Gem that there is a hint at something going on with Paul’s choice of words. It causes the literal versions to maintain the possibility that it might be a neuter plural when it perhaps should be a clear statement about human kind. In other words people either in heaven or on earth or under the earth. But the literal words include the possibility that Paul is talking about more than just human beings. I am sure you noticed by now the curious elements in the versions I gave you in the last Gem.
- (ASV) every knee of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
- (BBE) every knee of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld,
- (CEV) everyone, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
- (CJB) every knee—in heaven, on earth and under the earth—
- (ERV) every person, everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow.
- (ESV) every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- (GNB) all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees,
- (GW) everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel
- (ISV) the knees of everyone should fall wherever they’re residing.
- (JUB) every knee of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth,
- (KJV) every knee of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
- (LITV) every knee of heavenly ones, and earthly ones, and ones under the earth,
- (MKJV) every knee of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth;
- (MSG) all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried,
- (Murdock) every knee of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth;
- (NLT) every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- (RV) every knee of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
- (TLB) every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- (TLV) every knee, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth,
- (TPT) every knee in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name — in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm.
- (TS2009) every knee of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
It’s also in the Indonesian translations: (for those of you who need your own mother tongue before we can post all Gems and Nuggets in dual language format)
- (IBIS) semua makhluk {creature, being, thing) yang di surga, dan yang di bumi, serta yang di bawah bumi, akan menyembah Dia.
- (IMB) bertekuk lutut, segala yang di surga, di bumi dan di bawah bumi.
- (ITB) bertekuk lutut segala yang ada di langit dan yang ada di atas bumi dan yang ada di bawah bumi,
Every knee of those
- in heaven
- on earth
- under the earth
There are three locations for the knees.
Yes Paul is meaning every person who is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth. That is made clear by the nature of his repetitions and the way he constructed his sentence in Greek. At first glance it is clear those in heaven must refer to those people who have departed and are now in heaven. Those on earth are those people currently living and those under the earth must refer to those who are dead and buried. It’s clear isn’t it? Not necessarily. Let me add some complication.
Those in heaven could quite clearly refer to those departed saints while the knees of those under the earth could well refer to the departed as well. Perhaps saints and non-saints who are still in the grave. Or is that a reference to the division between departed saints and departed non-saints, the latter, those who died without being in Christ? The other way of looking at those under the earth is that it refers to those in the underworld. Now that opens up a world of debate related to the notion of the underworld in Hebrew, Greek and Western thought on Sheol, Hades and Hell or just simply the place of the dead, or even the Catholic doctrine of purgatory. I don’t intend to enter into the discussion on the difference between them. You are capable of studying the differences for yourself.
Now it is time to focus on the fact that Paul appears to be referring to more than humans. I am sure you noted among the translations above the following references:
- Things in heaven, things on earth, things under the earth
- Everyone, every person in all three places
- The knees of everyone wherever they are residing.
- Every knee, things . . . things . . . things . . .
- All beings in all three places
- All created beings
- Heavenly ones, earthly ones and under-the earthly ones
- Everything and everyone in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm and in the demonic realm.
Now let me add the next layer of thought likely to have been in Paul’s mind. By using the construction he has it is likely Paul was widening the circle or reference to knees. It appears that the knees are more all encompassing than human knees only. Notice how some of the translations broaden the knees to encompass everyone in the heavenly realms and the realm of the underworld. Yes it goes without saying that angels and demons will bow their knee. The angels will because they bow without hesitation. They do anyway by virtue of being in the heaven in the LORD’s presence. The demons will, not because they want to, but because they can do nothing less when they are faced with the truth of who this Jesus is. They will by compulsion, not forced but compelled by revelation.
Now let me introduce you to the new thought that hit me when I contemplated these thoughts. Angels in heaven, for sure; even demons in hell and in the underworld. Perhaps even the stubborn souls of departed men who refused all their lives to bow the knee will submit one day and confess they got it wrong. What a terrible situation to be in! To realise the ultimate Truth of something you rejected so vehemently. That is all very well but what about the knees on earth at that time? What about them? Who or what are they? Are they merely humans and nothing more. Everyone, every person on earth as some translations render the thought or is there more to it than that? Is it as some translations have rendered it, everything and everyone? Everything on earth with a knee? What does that include exactly? Just stop and ponder the notion for a moment. What things with knees would be on earth at that time? Much the same as what things have knees on earth at the moment. I imagine that would include humans of course. It would also include spirit beings both good (angels) and bad (demons), and the hosts of the demonic realm on earth or in the air as the hosts of the prince of the power of the air. But there are also many creatures and created kind with knees. Here knees are being used as a figure of speech (synecdoche) where the part is used to represent the whole. All creatures with knees. Well of course that includes human beings but there are many other creatures with knees. Make a list of your own which represents the creatures that would bow their knee before the One who bears the Name above every name. But I have a sneaking suspicion that everything, with or without knees will break forth into a cacophony of praise at the appearance the CREATOR.
Take that list you have made and now imagine all of those creatures bowed on bended knee before the NAME. Let me help you further by giving you the quote which came immediately to mind when I thought this new thought. Imagine that EVERYONE and EVERYTHING and EVERY CREATURE is bowed before Him who has been given the name above EVERY NAME. What a moment!
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Romans 8:18-22
Can you picture it? All the animals with knees that you can think of. All other creatures without knees? I imagine whether they have knees or not, they will be there. How could EVERY creature in creation not bow in awe before its Maker? Camels and elephants would be bowing down in the posture we all know well, front legs bent at the knees. I have no problem at all imagining all creation bowing in submission to the Most High. Flowers and trees “clapping their hands”, other plants bending their stems, insects subjugating themselves. Creation alive in postures of submission before the One Who was there at Creation and now bears the Name above every name. That moment when He appears and all of creation bows at His feet in awe and wonder!
[I am working on a different image to go with this. But at the moment am needing to increase my skills with a new programme. Here is my current substitute]
I will add more when we reach the culmination of this Majestic Passage and I reveal what I am sure is the Name that is above every name.
Worship is the most momentous, the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life. That’s because it gets us ready for what is to come.
Karl Barth
Worship is giving God the best that He has given to us. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift in a deliberate act of worship.
Oswald Chambers
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts
Imagine the moment when every creature in rapt wonder and worship bows in submission to the Name above every name.
Ian Vail