Ephesians 4:9

⁷ Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

⁸ This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”

What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰ He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

¹¹ And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
KJV: (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
WEB: Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
ASV: (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
DARBY: But that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
BLB: Now what is the [saying] “He ascended,” except that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth?

ÅB: Men dette: Han fór opp, hva er det uten at han først fór ned til jordens lavere deler?
OTB: (Men dette, "han steg opp," hva betyr det annet enn at han også steg ned til de lavere, jordiske områder?
B1930: Men dette: Han fór op, hvad er det uten at han først fór ned til jordens lavere deler?

John 3:13
No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
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Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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Proverbs 30:4
Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know!
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John 6:33
For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
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Psalms 63:9
But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth.
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John 6:58
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
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Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
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Psalms 8:5
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor.
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