King James Version

Ephesians 4:8

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

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Greek

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) adds “and” (καὶ) before he gave here.

διὸdioWhereforeδιόconjunction — “Wherefore”G1352wherefore, on which account, therefore.Whereforeλέγειlegeihe saithλέγω (legō)verb, present active indicative, 3rd person singular — “he saith”, an ongoing or repeated actionG3004(denoting speech in progress), (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.he saithἈναβὰςanabasWhen he ascendedἀναβαίνω (anabainō)verb, aorist active participle, nominative, singular, masculine — “When he ascended”, a single actionG305I go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up.When he ascendedεἰςeisupεἰςpreposition — “up”G1519into, in, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among.upὕψοςhupsoson highὕψοςnoun, accusative, singular, neuter — “on high”, the object formG5311height, heaven; dignity, eminence.on highᾐχμαλώτευσενēchmalōteusenhe led captivityαἰχμαλωτεύω (aichmalōteuō)verb, aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular — “he led captivity”, a single actionG162I take captive, captivate.he led captivityαἰχμαλωσίανaichmalōsiancaptiveαἰχμαλωσία (aichmalōsia)noun, accusative, singular, feminine — “captive”, the object formG161captivity; a captive multitude.captiveἔδωκενedōkengaveδίδωμι (didōmi)verb, aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular — “gave”, a single actionG1325I offer, give; I put, place.gaveδόματαdomatagiftsδόμα (doma)noun, accusative, plural, neuter — “gifts”, the object formG1390a gift, present.giftsτοῖςtoistheὁ (ho)article, dative, plural, masculine — “the”, the to- or for-formG3588the, the definite article.ἀνθρώποιςanthrōpoisunto menἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)noun, dative, plural, masculine — “unto men”, the to- or for-formG444a man, one of the human race.unto men

Textus Receptus Words Not in the SBL Text

καὶkaiandκαίconjunction — “and”G2532and, even, also, namely.This verse uses “and”.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

wherefore, he saith, 'Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' —

Translation Note

Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. ἔδωκεν is δίδωμι, aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular, “he gave.” The Textus Receptus adds καί before that verb. The King James reads “and gave gifts unto men.”

Psalm 68:18 in the 1917 Jewish Publication Society says “Thou hast received gifts among men.” The Greek Old Testament has ἔλαβες, “you received.” Paul writes “gave.” The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) reads “he gave gifts in men,” and its study note says the psalm has “received” and that Paul applies “gave.”

King James Version. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible), this verse. “For it says: “When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts in men.”” Watchtower Online Library

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.

Young’s Literal Translation

wherefore, he saith, 'Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' —

World English Bible

Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”

Darby Translation

Wherefore he says, Having ascended up on high, he has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men.

Douay-Rheims

Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men.

Quotes

Psalms 68:18 Psalms 68:18 · King James VersionThou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.Psalms 68:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

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The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.