Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G Messagebut poured Himself out—taking the form of a servant, born in the likeness of human beings, and appearing in every way as a man,
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.Gbut emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of human beings; and being found in outward bearing as a man,
KJV
King James VersionBut made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
BSB
Berean Standard Biblebut emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Footnotes
ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν—the kenosis: F.O.G preserves the stark literal "emptied Himself"; F.O.G Message uses "poured Himself out" to evoke the libation imagery of v.17 and the sacrificial trajectory of the whole hymn. δοῦλος is "slave"—a person with no legal rights, no autonomy, no social standing—not the softer "servant." Paul carefully differentiates three terms: μορφή (essential nature, v.6), ὁμοίωμα ("likeness"—genuine but not identical), and σχῆμα ("outward bearing"—the visible presentation). This tripartite structure guards against docetism while preserving the incarnational mystery.
