The Meaning of Philippians 4:12 Explained

Philippians 4:12

KJV: I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

YLT: I have known both to be abased, and I have known to abound; in everything and in all things I have been initiated, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

Darby: I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am initiated both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer privation.

ASV: I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

Discover Philippians 4:12

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Philippians 4:12?

MEANING: What does Philippians 4:12 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Philippians 4:12 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Philippians 4:12?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<1161> I know  both how to be abased,  and  I know  how to abound:  every where  and  in  all things  I am instructed  both  to be full  and  to be hungry,  both  to abound  and  to suffer need. 

What does Philippians 4:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Specifically, Paul could be equally content with little or with much materially because he was rich spiritually. Both poverty and wealth bring temptations with them ( Proverbs 30:7-9). The apostle had learned how to handle both need and abundance in every individual situation (en panti) and in all situations (en pasin).
"His disinheritance would follow upon his becoming a Christian, and this is probably in view in iii7 (cf. I Cor. iv10-13; 2Cor. vi10)." [1]
"Prosperity has done more damage to believers than has adversity." [2]

Context Summary

Philippians 4:10-23 - "my God Shall Supply Every Need"
The Apostle had been glad to receive the gifts of his friends, because these evidenced their earnest religious life. It was fruit that increased to their account. On his own part he had learned one of the greatest of lessons-contentment with whatever state he found himself in. This is a secret that can only be acquired by our experience of life in the will of God. When once the soul lives in God and finds its highest ideal in the fulfillment of His will, it becomes absolutely assured that all things which are necessary will be added. All things are possible to those who derive their daily strength from God.
It is wonderful to hear Paul say that he abounded, Philippians 4:18. A prison, a chain, a meager existence! The great ones of the world would have ridiculed the idea that any could be said to abound in such conditions. But they could not imagine the other hemisphere in which Paul lived; and out of his own blessed experience of what Christ could do, he promised that one's every need would be supplied. God's measure is his riches in glory; and his channel is Jesus Christ. Let us learn from Philippians 4:18 that every gift to God's children which is given from a pure motive is acceptable to Him as a fragrant sacrifice. That reference in Philippians 4:22 shows that Paul was making good use of his stay in Rome [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 4

1  From particular admonitions,
4  he proceeds to general exhortations,
10  showing how he rejoiced at their generosity toward him while in prison
19  And so he concludes with prayer and salutations

Greek Commentary for Philippians 4:12

I know how [οιδα]
Followed by the infinitive οιδα — oida has this sense. So here twice, with ταπεινουσται — tapeinousthai to be humbled, from ταπεινος — tapeinos and with περισσευειν — perisseuein to overflow. [source]
Have I learned the secret [μεμυημαι]
Perfect passive indicative of μυεω — mueō old and common word from μυω — muō to close (Latin mutus), and so to initiate with secret rites, here only in N.T. The common word μυστηριον — mustērion (mystery) is from μυστης — mustēs (one initiated) and this from μυεω — mueō to initiate, to instruct in secrets. Paul draws this metaphor from the initiatory rites of the pagan mystery-religions. To be filled (χορταζεσται — chortazesthai). Old verb from χορτος — chortos (grass, hay) and so to fatten like an animal. To be hungry Old verb from πεινα — peina (hunger) and kin to πενης — penēs poor man who has to work for his living (πενομαι — penomai). [source]
To be filled [χορταζεσται]
Old verb from χορτος — chortos (grass, hay) and so to fatten like an animal. [source]
To be hungry [πειναιν]
Old verb from πεινα — peina (hunger) and kin to πενης — penēs poor man who has to work for his living (πενομαι — penomai). [source]
I am instructed [μεμύημαι]
Rev., have I learned the secret. The metaphor is from the initiatory rites of the pagan mysteries. I have been initiated. See on Colossians 1:26. [source]
To be full [χορτάζεσθαι]
See on Matthew 5:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 4:12 mean?

I know also [how] to be brought low [how] to abound In everything and all things I have learned the secret to be full to hunger to abound to be deficient
οἶδα καὶ ταπεινοῦσθαι περισσεύειν ἐν παντὶ καὶ πᾶσιν μεμύημαι χορτάζεσθαι πεινᾶν περισσεύειν ὑστερεῖσθαι

οἶδα  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ταπεινοῦσθαι  [how]  to  be  brought  low 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: ταπεινόω  
Sense: to make low, bring low.
περισσεύειν  [how]  to  abound 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: περισσεύω  
Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure.
παντὶ  everything 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
πᾶσιν  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
μεμύημαι  I  have  learned  the  secret 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: μυέω  
Sense: to initiate into the mysteries.
χορτάζεσθαι  to  be  full 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: χορτάζω  
Sense: to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten.
πεινᾶν  to  hunger 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: πεινάω  
Sense: to hunger, be hungry.
περισσεύειν  to  abound 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: περισσεύω  
Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure.
ὑστερεῖσθαι  to  be  deficient 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Root: ὑστερέω  
Sense: behind.

What are the major concepts related to Philippians 4:12?

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