High (5311) (hupsos from húpsi = high, aloft) means elevation, altitude, the sky. As used figuratively in James (see below) it speaks of dignity or being exalted (as having a "high" position). Luke 1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (KJV = Dayspring - the Messiah's coming would be like the coming of dawn, light driving away darkness) from on high shall visit us (cf Mal 4:2, Lu 19:42, 44 - the Jews failed to recognize His time of visitation!) Luke 24:49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Ephesians 3:8 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, James 1:9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position (hupsos) Revelation 21:16 And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES: echmaloteusen (3SAAI) aichmalosian: (Judges 5:12; Colossians 2:15) He led captive a host of captives - In the context of Ephesians 4, this passage depicts our triumphant Lord Jesus Christ returning from earth to heaven after His victory at Calvary. KJV Commentary writes that... This is a quotation from Psalm 68:18, a messianic psalm of victory in which God is praised for deliverance. He led captivity captive. The inferences drawn from the triumphal return of the King are: (1) the thought of victory; and (2) the bestowal of gifts. The captives are most probably the Old Testament saints in sheol (hades). (Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson) John MacArthur explains that... In His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered Satan, sin, and death (cf. Col 2:!5-note), and by that great victory He led captive a host of captives, who once were prisoners of the enemy but now are returned to the God and the people with whom they belong. (MacArthur, J: Ephesians. Chicago: Moody Press) Although I favor the above interpretations, it must be mentioned that there are other able commentators who feel this passage indicates quite a different identity of the captives. For example Martyn Lloyd-Jones feels that... the picture is one of triumph over enemies, one of the leading of enemies in triumph. In ancient times, if a king or a prince or a great military captain waged successful warfare, when he came back to his own country there was always a kind of victory parade. The conquered kings and princes and military chieftains and captains were all made to walk in the procession in their chains. The conqueror was ‘leading captivity captive’. He had taken his foes captive and was now making a public display of them. At the same time he threw gifts to his own people. He was riding in his chariot distributing his largesse among the acclaiming people, and he was leading these conquered men as captives at the same time. (Lloyd-Jones, D. M. Exposition of Ephesians in 8 Vol. Baker Book or Logos Version) He led captive (162) (aichmaloteuo from aichme = spear + halotós = be taken, conquered) means to be taken a prisoner of war by the sword. The idea is to gain complete control over another, either by force or deception. The allusion is to a triumphal possession in which one marched the captives that one had taken in a war. A host of captives (161) (aichmalosia) describes the state of being captive or of taking someone captive by the force of the spear. AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN: edoken (3SAAI) domata tois anthropois: (1Samuel 30:26; Esther 2:18) He gave - As noted above, Paul substitutes "gave" for "received". Some might argue that this contradicts the infallibility of the Scripture. But there is really no contradiction for it is true to say that Christ both received and gave. Listen to what Peter, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, says in Acts 2... "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. (Acts 2:33) Comment: And so we see Christ has both received and given, the latter action presupposing the former. So the Son received the gift from the Father and gives gifts to the Church, thus there is no contradiction for both statements are true. The same Holy Spirit Who inspired David to write received, also inspired Paul to write give, these actions being two sides of the same "coin" for the same intended meaning is brought out in both cases; i.e., that Jehovah Jesus is the One through Whom and by Whom the gifts flow to the Church. This pictures Jesus as our Great High Priest, Who mediates the receiving and giving between us and His Father. Gave gifts - The greatest gift Jesus gave was the Holy Spirit, Who in turn brought life to men in salvation, baptized (brought them into union) with the body of Christ and then distributed individual spiritual gifts to each believer as He willed. In the gospel of John Jesus referred to His giving of the Spirit, recording that... on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the gift of the Spirit was not yet given (as He would be given by Jesus at the appropriate time), because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39) Jesus promised to send the Spirit to His disciples "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, Who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me" (John 14:26) "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7) "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Lu 24:49) Gave (1325) (didomi) means He granted these gifts based on decision of His will and not on the merit of the recipients. MacArthur explains that... Upon arriving in heaven, He gave gifts to men. Paul here uses yet another term for gifts (domata) to express the comprehensiveness of this gracious provision. Like a triumphant conqueror distributing the spoils to his subjects, so Christ takes the trophies He has won and distributes them in His kingdom. After His ascension came all the gifts empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 7:39; 14:12; Acts 2:33). When the Savior was exalted on high, He sent the Spirit (Acts 1:8), and with the coming of the Spirit also came His gifts to the church. (MacArthur, J: Ephesians. Chicago: Moody Press)