Philippians 2:10-11
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While we often think of "things" bowing, the verse specifically points to intelligent beings – angels in heaven, people on earth, and even those in the realm of the dead. This isn't just about things acknowledging Jesus, but about every creature eventually confessing his Lordship, whether willingly or by constraint.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is building on his exhortation for the Philippian believers to live in humility, following the example of Jesus who emptied himself to become a servant. He's describing the ultimate destiny and recognition Jesus will receive, drawing from Old Testament imagery of universal homage to God. This climactic confession and bowing of the knee is the divinely intended outcome of Christ's humbling obedience and subsequent exaltation.
When we talk about bowing at Jesus' name, are we just being polite, or is something much bigger going on? This verse points to the very core of Jesus' identity and authority.
The phrase 'at the name of Jesus' isn't just about the sound of the letters or a specific moment of prayer. It's about recognizing and submitting to everything that the name 'Jesus' represents: His divine nature, His redemptive work, His authority, and His glorious status.
More Than a Word
Think of a name like 'President' or 'King.' It's not just a label; it carries immense authority and power. The name 'Jesus' is infinitely more. The scholars point out that 'in the name' signifies the spiritual realm and reality where this homage is paid. It's the sphere where Jesus' authority is acknowledged.
This isn't about a forced, magical reaction to the utterance of a word. Instead, it's about acknowledging the person and the authority encapsulated in that name. All of creation, in every realm, will ultimately recognize and bow to the reality of who Jesus is.
Heaven, earth, and under the earth – this sounds like everywhere. What does it mean for Jesus' authority to extend to such vast and diverse realms?
The passage paints a breathtaking picture of Jesus' ultimate authority spanning the entire cosmos. It's not just humanity on earth that will acknowledge Him, but every conceivable being and realm.
Realms of Reality
Ask a follow-up
This comprehensive scope underscores that Jesus' reign is absolute and inescapable. It’s a declaration that His lordship isn't limited to a select few but is a cosmic reality.
Does everyone bowing at Jesus' name do so with joy? The passage hints at different responses to His authority.
The act of 'bowing the knee' is a powerful symbol of submission and homage. However, the nature of this submission can differ dramatically. The context of Philippians, as well as other Scriptures, points to two distinct responses:
Cheerful Submission
For those who have trusted in Jesus, bowing the knee is a willing and joyful act. It's a free expression of love, gratitude, and recognition of His Lordship, flowing from a heart transformed by His grace. This is the homage of faith.
Forced Acknowledgment
For others, the bowing will be one of compulsion. This doesn't necessarily mean a physical act, but an undeniable acknowledgment of Jesus' supreme authority and power, even by those who have rejected Him. They will be forced to recognize His sovereignty, perhaps at the final judgment, submitting to His decree out of inevitability rather than willing devotion. Even fallen angels and the lost will ultimately bow, demonstrating the inescapable reach of Christ's authority.
Understand the original words
kampsē · Greek Verb
A physical posture signifying submission, reverence, worship, and recognition of authority. It is the universal acknowledgment of the supreme Lordship of Jesus Christ.
exomologeō · Greek Verb
The act of publicly acknowledging, declaring, or agreeing with a truth. Biblically, it involves a sincere heart confession of Jesus as Lord that leads to salvation.
kyrios · Greek Noun
A title denoting supreme authority, ownership, and sovereignty. In the New Testament, it is specifically applied to Jesus, signifying His divine nature and position as the ruler over all creation.
This verse draws on ancient Hebrew prophecy (Isaiah 45:23) and echoes visions in Revelation, applying it directly to Jesus Christ. Paul uses this grand cosmic scope to encourage humility in the Philippian church, reminding them that the Jesus they serve, despite his current suffering, is destined for universal adoration.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
Isaiah prophesies, 'Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other... To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.' This sets the stage for the concept of universal acknowledgment of God.
c. 63 BC - 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus, the one whose name would be exalted above all others, is born in Bethlehem. This marks the beginning of his earthly life and ministry.
c. AD 30 - 33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified, dies, and is resurrected. This pivotal event demonstrates his authority over death and fulfills the prophecies of his suffering and ultimate triumph.
c. AD 40s - 60s
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul travels extensively, spreading the Gospel and establishing churches, including the church in Philippi. His letters, like Philippians, are written to these communities.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul Writes Philippians from Prison
Paul pens the letter to the Philippians, likely from Rome. In it, he urges believers to live in humility and unity, using Jesus' own self-emptying as the ultimate example.
c. AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman Empire destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, a catastrophic event for Jewish people that highlights the end of an era and the unfolding of God's plan.
c. AD 95
Book of Revelation Written
The Book of Revelation depicts a future vision where all creation, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, worships God and the Lamb (Jesus), echoing the sentiment in Philippians.
This Old Testament passage is a direct inspiration for Paul's statement, declaring that every knee shall bow and every tongue swear allegiance to God, a truth Paul applies to Jesus in Philippians.
Revelation 5:13This vision in Revelation echoes Paul's language, depicting every created being in heaven, on earth, and under the earth acknowledging the Lamb (Jesus) as worthy of blessing and honor, reinforcing the universal scope of Christ's sovereignty.
Romans 14:11Paul quotes Isaiah 45:23 again here, applying it to the humble service of believers, showing how the universal submission to Christ in Philippians is a truth that should also guide our present actions and attitudes towards one another.
Matthew 28:18Jesus Himself declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him, a foundational truth that underpins the universal bowing of knees described in Philippians, as it reveals the source of Christ's ultimate authority.
Ephesians 1:20-21This passage speaks of God raising Christ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, providing the theological context for why every knee *should* bow to Jesus, as He has been exalted to the highest possible position.
vincentPhilippians 2:10: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
At the name of Jesus (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι)Rev., better, in the name. The name means here the personal name; but as including all that is involved in the name. See on Matthew 28:19. Hence the salutation is not at the name of Jesus, as by bowing when the name is uttered, but, as Ellicott rightly says: "the spiritual sphere, the holy element as it were, in which…
barnesPhilippians 2:10: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow - The knee should bow, or bend, in token of honor, or worship; that is, all people should adore him. This cannot mean merely that at the mention of the name of Jesses we should bow; nor is there any evidence that God requires this. Why should we bow at the mention of that name, rather than at any of the other t…
While we often think of "things" bowing, the verse specifically points to intelligent beings – angels in heaven, people on earth, and even those in the realm of the dead. This isn't just about things acknowledging Jesus, but about every creature eventually confessing his Lordship, whether willingly or by constraint.
Paul is building on his exhortation for the Philippian believers to live in humility, following the example of Jesus who emptied himself to become a servant. He's describing the ultimate destiny and recognition Jesus will receive, drawing from Old Testament imagery of universal homage to God. This climactic confession and bowing of the knee is the divinely intended outcome of Christ's humbling obedience and subsequent exaltation.
Paul is building on his exhortation for the Philippian believers to live in humility, following the example of Jesus who emptied himself to become a servant. He's describing the ultimate destiny and recognition Jesus will receive, drawing from Old Testament imagery of universal homage to God. This climactic confession and bowing of the knee is the divinely intended outcome of Christ's humbling obedience and subsequent exaltation.
"so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." — While we often think of "things" bowing, the verse specifically points to intelligent beings – angels in heaven, people on earth, and even those in the realm of the dead. This isn't just about th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
