morph μορφή

morph / μορφή from which we get words like morphed, morphology which is the study of the shape or form of things is usually translated as “shape” and this is insufficient. 

Another way that it is used is “form” in Philippians 2:6-7. “Form” is  closer but it still doesn’t drive home the intentions of Paul. The word "form" in the ESV and other versions is sometimes interpreted here as referring to a station in life or a position one holds, a rank. In the case of Philippians, Jesus took the form of a slave or δούλου / doulou.

“…who, though he was in the form [μορφῇ] of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form [μορφὴν] of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ~Philippians 2:6-7

So when “form / morphe” is used in this way it means that Jesus was Deity but also condescended to the rank or position of a slave in His earthly ministry.

Morphe / μορφή is a Hellenized philosophical term that describes outward appearance one gives of their inward nature. The ‘wearing of one’s heart on one’s sleeve.’ An outward appearance that proceeds from and begins from that very inward nature. The ESV that states, “though he was in the form of God” it is specifically telling us that the Lord is in a state of being deity/divine and His outward expression as He was seen as human in His life during His ministry as a human sprang from His inner substance of deity. Imago dei. He was, “taking the form of a servant.” Along with divinity we see Him giving and outward expression of inner nature as a servant, this expression is also truly representative of His inner nature also. It means that the outward mien Jesus gave of Himself was coming from His Deity, and while on earth He was a servant, yet He was God before, during and in His incarnation…and obviously after also. As God he worked and served. A servant leader.

The word "being / ὑπάρχων " (v.6), is also a rather loose translation.. The word “being” refers only to the time denoted by the context, the context here talks about Jesus’ preincarnate state before He took on His humanity. But “being / ὑπάρχων” is talking about a pre-existing condition that exists into the “now” or the present. But ὑπάρχων cannot only mean Jesus’ condition or “state of being” from the time previous to coming to earth but ὑπάρχων because it is written as Present (Tense) Active Indicative. It is proclaiming that Jesus was in this state at the very time Paul was writing to the Philippians…after His Death and Resurrection. This means that Jesus took upon Himself the outward expression of a slave in his humanity and did not relinquish His deity nor his servant nature in that deity. It is ongoing. He upholds all things by his word…even now.

In Jesus we see a love in divine, human and servant form. When we look at the surrounding text we realize from (v.5) that we are to “have this mind in us” in our relationships with one another in the Body of Christ. We are to have the mind of Christ (a slave) in our relationships to others (the body). Jesus, who was and has always been (even now) in a form or “being” which outwardly expresses His very core nature…which is/was and always will be Deity/human and to serve or give. Even having known this and after “weighing His options” considered it of infinite value to be equal with Deity but emptied Himself anyway of this outward expression and took on the expression of a fully human, a slave even to death.