Ephesians 4:9

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

(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].

Cross References

Matthew 12:40

For just like Jonah was in the stomach of the huge fish for three days and nights, so the Son of man will be in the heart of the earth [i.e., the cave-tomb] for three days and nights.

John 20:17

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not ascended to the Father yet [Note: Apparently Jesus was discouraging Mary from embracing Him in worship as was done in Matt. 28:9, and thereby causing a delay of when the rest of the disciples would learn of His resurrection], but go to my brothers and tell them [I said] ‘I am [about] to ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God.’”

John 3:13

And no one has gone up to heaven except the One who has come down from heaven, [even] the Son of man. {Most translations do not contain the following words} “who is in heaven”.

John 6:33

For the bread God gives is the One [see verse 35] who comes down from heaven, and [He] gives [spiritual] life to the world.”

John 6:38

For I have come down from heaven to do what God, who sent me, wants me to do, not what I want to do.

John 6:41

So the Jews, [who were assembled in the synagogue. See verse 59] began complaining about Jesus because He had said; “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

John 6:51

I am the living bread who came down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Yes, and the bread that I will give [him] is my physical body, [so] that the world can have [never ending] life.”

John 6:58

This is the bread that came down from heaven [i.e., Jesus is referring to Himself]. [It is] not like [the bread] our forefathers ate and [then] died. The person who eats this bread will live forever.”

John 6:62

Then what if you were to see the Son of man going up [i.e., to heaven] where He was before?

John 8:14

Jesus replied to them, “Even if I do give testimony about myself, it is [still] 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.

Hebrews 2:7

You made him a little bit lower than the angels [i.e., a little less exalted]. [Note: Although these Psalms passages referred to mankind, they are here applied to Jesus. See verse 9]. You crowned him with splendor and honor {some ancient manuscripts add the following phrase} “and placed him as ruler over what you made”.

Hebrews 2:9

But we do see Jesus, who was made a little bit lower than the angels [i.e., by suffering death as a human being], and was crowned with splendor and honor because He suffered death. It was by God’s unearned favor that He would experience death for every person.