Lexical Summary harpagmos: Grasping, robbery, something to be seized Original Word: ἁρπαγμός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance plunderFrom harpazo; plunder (properly concrete) -- robbery. see GREEK harpazo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 725 harpagmós – to seize, especially by an open display of force. See 726 (harpazō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom harpazó Definition the act of seizing or the thing seized NASB Translation thing to be grasped (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 725: ἁρπαγμόςἁρπαγμός, ἁρπαγμου, ὁ (ἁρπάζω); 1. the act of seizing, robbery (so Plutarch, de book educ. c. 15 (others 14, 37), vol. 2:12 a. the only instance of its use noted in secular authors). 2. a thing seized or to be seized, booty: ἁρπαγμόν ἡγεῖσθαι τί to deem anything a prlze — a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained, Philippians 2:6; on the meaning of this passage see μορφή; (ἡγεῖσθαι or ποιεῖσθαι τί ἅρπαγμα, Eusebius, h. e. 8, 12, 2; vit. Const. 2, 31; (commentaries in Luc. vi., cf. Mai, Nov. Biblical Patr. iv., p. 165); Heliodorus 7, 11 and 20; 8, 7; (Plutarch, de Alex. virt. 1, 8, p. 330d.);utomniumbonapraedamtuamduceres, Cicero, Verr. 2:5, 15, 39; (see Lightfoot on Phil., p. 133f (cf. p. 111); Wetstein at the passage; Cremer, 4te Aufl., p. 153f)). Topical Lexicon Term and Canonical Occurrence Harpagmos (ἁρπαγμός) appears once in the New Testament, in Philippians 2:6, within Paul’s Christological hymn. Cultural and Linguistic Background In secular Greek writings the noun family conveys seizing spoils, clutching prey, or tenaciously holding advantage. Military victory, civic privilege, and even courtroom disputes employed the image of grasping what one either desired or believed was already his. When Paul selects this rare word, he places Jesus’ attitude against the backdrop of triumphal self-assertion familiar to Greco-Roman ears. Context within Philippians 2:5–11 The surrounding passage commands, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The word harpagmos becomes the hinge: • Pre-existent glory: “existing in the form of God.” Paul’s structure shows that the Son possessed equality, yet refused to treat it as a trophy to guard for His own advantage. The downward movement (form of God → servant → death) is thus deliberate, not coerced. Christological Significance 1. Full Deity Affirmed: Only one who is truly equal with God can forgo the prerogatives of that equality. Historical Theological Reception • Irenaeus invoked the verse against Gnostic demotion of the Son. Ethical and Pastoral Implications • Humble Service: Believers refuse to cling to personal rights, mirroring Christ (Philippians 2:3–4). Devotional Reflection Harpagmos presses each reader to ask: Do I cling to position, recognition, or comfort? The eternal Son counted none of these worth grasping when souls hung in the balance. The Spirit who formed that mindset in Him now forms it in all who are “in Christ Jesus.” Summary Though occurring but once, harpagmos powerfully encapsulates the gospel paradox: the Highest stoops lower than all to lift many to Himself. It anchors a cornerstone passage for orthodox Christology and supplies a perpetual call to Christ-like humility. Forms and Transliterations αρπαγμον αρπαγμόν ἁρπαγμὸν arpagmon harpagmon harpagmònLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |