Philippians 2:9 - Exposition

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him . The exaltation is the reward of the humiliation: "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Better, as R.V., highly exalted. The aorist ( ὑπερύψωσεν ) refers to the historical facts of the Resurrection and Ascension . And given him a Name which is above every name ; read and translate, as R.V., and gave unto him the Name. The two aorist verbs, "highly exalted" and "freely gave" ( ἐχαρίσατο ), refer to the time of our Lord's resurrection and ascension. He voluntarily assumed a subordinate position; God the Father exalted him. We must read, with the best manuscripts, the Name. This seems to mean, not the name Jesus, which was given him at his circumcision, in accordance with the angel's message; but the name Lord or Jehovah (comp. Philippians 2:11 ), which was indeed his before his incarnation, but was given (comp. Matthew 28:18 , "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth") to Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son, God and Man in one Person. Or more probably, perhaps, the word "Name" is used here, as so often in the Hebrew Scriptures, for the majesty, glory, dignity, of the Godhead. Compare the oft-repeated words of the psahnist, "Praise the Name of the Lord." So Gesenius, in his Hebrew lexicon on the word M#$' he explains the Name of the Lord as (b) Jehovah as being called on and praised by men; and (c) the Deity as being present with mortals (comp. Ephesians 1:21 ; Hebrews 1:4 ).