What does “in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” mean (Philippians 2:10)?

In Philippians 2:10, Paul declares that all creation will one day show Jesus Christ the honor due Him: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (ESV). The expression in heaven and on earth and under the earth highlights the deity and authority of Christ. Regardless of the realm, Christ is king; one day, all beings will bend the knee to Him, whether in joyful submission or in obligatory acknowledgement.

The preceding verses in this context encourage believers to follow Christ’s example of humble service (Philippians 2:5–8). Though Christ was God, He did not cling to His divine prerogatives. Instead, He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant. His kenosis, or self-emptying, was demonstrated through His humble birth, life of service, and sacrificial death on the cross. Because of Jesus’ persistent self-denial, God “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9, ESV). At a future time, every created being in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will worship Him (cf. Romans 14:11; 1 Peter 3:22).

The name above all names, conferred upon Jesus, highlights His lordship and sovereignty, effective in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (See Acts 4:12.) Jesus is Lord of all creation, and everyone will one day submit to His authority: “Every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:1, ESV). Jesus’ authority will be universally acknowledged. The honor given to the Lord will fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 45:23: “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance” (ESV).

Jesus will be praised by every creature “in heaven”; that is, by all angels and glorified saints. He will be honored by every creature “on earth”; that is, by all humanity, redeemed and unredeemed. He will be worshiped by every creature “under the earth”; that is, by all the dead (and possibly the demons). Some beings will worship Christ out of love, others out of fear, but all will worship.

Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16, ESV). He is the one “through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6, ESV). He governs both the living and the dead (Romans 14:9). He is the Lord upon whom the church calls (1 Corinthians 1:2). In His roles as Mediator (Hebrews 8:6; 12:24), Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25), and Reconciler (Ephesians 2:16; Romans 5:1), He grants access to the kingdom of heaven (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus’ name, the name above all names, will be acknowledged in every corner of creation. The whole universe is Jesus’ domain, and there is not one creature that exists outside of the Lord’s authority. Not everyone will be saved, but every creature will eventually recognize Jesus’ rightful position. At that time, the Father’s “plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth,” will come to pass (Ephesians 1:10, ESV).

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15–16, NLT).