Philippians 2:27

Philippians 2:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
• New International Version (NIV)Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Context of Philippians 2:27

25But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. 26For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,

Philippians 2:27 word by word

καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν, οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμέ, ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην σχῶ.Read the interlinear

• He was sickγάρgar · forG1063
• He was sickἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: illG770
• indeedκαίkai · andG2532
• nearlyπαραπλήσιονparaplēsion · almostG3897
• unto deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• had mercy onἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andδέde · thenG1161
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
• on meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• spare meμήmē · notG3361
• spare meἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909

Cross-references for Philippians 2:27

• Philippians 2:30because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.
• 2 Kings 20:1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”
• Psalms 107:18They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
• John 11:3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
• Acts 9:37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
• Job 5:19He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
• Psalms 30:1I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me.
• Psalms 34:19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
• Psalms 103:3He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,
• Psalms 107:19Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.
• Isaiah 38:17Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
• Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
• Acts 9:39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
• Isaiah 27:8By warfare and exile You contended with her and removed her with a fierce wind, as on the day the east wind blows.
• Jeremiah 8:18My sorrow is beyond healing; my heart is faint within me.

Commentaries on Philippians 2:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow - The sorrows of his death, added to the sorrow he endured on account of his sickness; or he may refer to his own state of affliction, being imprisoned and maltreated.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death - Dr. Paley has remarked (Hor. Paul. on Phil no. ii.) that the account of the sickness and recovery of Epaphroditus is such as to lead us to suppose that he was not restored by miracle; and he infers that the power of healing the sick was conferred on the apostles only occasionally, and did not depend at all on their will, since, if it had, there is every reason to suppose that Paul would at once have restored him to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-30Verses 19-30 It is best with us, when our duty becomes natural to us. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretence only; with a willing heart and upright views. We are apt to prefer our own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty; but Timothy did not so. Paul desired liberty, not that he might take pleasure, but that he might do good. Epaphroditus was willing to go to the Philippians, that he might be comforted with those who had…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27Paul believed God showed mercy by helping Epaphroditus recover from a serious illness. This mercy also helped Paul, who was already suffering in prison.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. Epaphroditus' sickness proves that the apostles had not ordinarily the permanent gift of miracles, any more than of inspiration: both were vouchsafed to them only for each particular occasion, as the Spirit thought fit. lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow--namely, the sorrow of losing him by death, in addition to the sorrow of my imprisonment. Here only occurs anything of a sorrowful tone in this Epistle, which generally is most joyous.Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 2:27

• Epaphroditus
• Minister, Christian
• Suffering

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Apostle
• Companion
• Disputing
• Epaphroditus
• Lowliness
• Nigh
• Presently
• Vainglory

Commentaries on Philippians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings