What Does Philippians 2:3 Mean in the King James?
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Vainglory is glory emptied of weight: the pursuit of recognition carries its own hollowness.
THE MEANING
Rivalry turns your encounters into tests of rank, and vainglory makes recognition feel like proof of worth. Here, another person is regarded as surpassing you, loosening the contest that makes worth depend on being seen as greater.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You matter only when you outrank someone else.
THE ROOT
κενοδοξία
kenodoxia
GROWS FROM
κεν- (ken-, empty) + δοξ- (dox-, glory, renown, weight)
A compound of emptiness and glory or renown: a claim to weight that is hollow at its center.
Vainglory joins emptiness to glory: it is a claim to weight that is hollow at the center. The same empty root appears in Philippians 2:7, where the movement is into self-emptying and service.
ALSO GROWS
kenos: Empty, void.
κενός
This is the empty part of the compound: an outward claim without inner substance.
kenoō: To empty or make void; translated “made himself of no reputation” in Philippians 2:7.
κενόω
The same empty root links vainglory with the self-emptying described in the next verse.
doxa: Glory, renown, honor; weight.
δόξα
This is the glory that vainglory empties, showing how the pursuit of recognition can lack the weight it claims.
ταπεινοφροσύνη
tapeinophrosynē
GROWS FROM
ταπεινός (tapeinos, lowly) + φρήν (phrēn, mind)
A compound joining lowliness with the mind or inner disposition.
“lowliness of mind” in this verse is tapeinophrosynē. The compound places lowliness inside the mind’s stance: its inner measure is the capacity to regard another as surpassing. In this verse, that stance loosens the rank contest sustained by empty glory.
ALSO GROWS
tapeinos: Lowly, humble.
ταπεινός
This gives the compound its lowly orientation, the posture from which another can be regarded as surpassing.
phroneō: To think, set one’s mind, or hold an attitude.
φρονέω
This branch shows that the lowliness named here belongs to the mind’s way of regarding others, not merely to outward appearance.
THE PATTERN
Rivalry grows where worth is measured by rank; humility breaks that structure by making room for another’s precedence.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.THE THREAD
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:The phrase “made himself of no reputation” translates ἐκένωσεν (ekenōsen, emptied or made void), from κενόω (kenoō, to empty or make void), sharing the κεν- (ken-, empty) root in κενοδοξία (kenodoxia, empty glory). Verse 3 exposes the hollowness of grasping for recognition; verse 7 opens the movement into self-emptying and service.
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