Grasp
Textsâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Greek term harpagmos, translated variously as 'grasp,' 'exploit,' or 'prize,' denotes an object of seizure or a status to be retained, serving as the lexical basis for interpreting whether Christ's equality with God was something He held onto or relinquished in the incarnation.
What is the meaning of Grasp in the Bible?
The Greek term harpagmos, translated variously as 'grasp,' 'exploit,' or 'prize,' denotes an object of seizure or a status to be retained, serving as the lexical basis for interpreting whether Christ's equality with God was something He held onto or relinquished in the incarnation.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Analyzing the semantic range of harpagmos clarifies the syntactical structure of Philippians 2:6, allowing readers to distinguish between translations that emphasize Christ's active self-emptying and those that focus on His pre-existent divine status, thereby resolving long-standing exegetical ambiguities.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Grasp in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Grasp clarify?
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.