Philemon 1:20

Philemon 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Context of Philemon 1:20

18And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it — not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Philemon 1:20 word by word

ναί, ἀδελφέ, ἐγώ σου ὀναίμην ἐν κυρίῳ· ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Yeaναίnai · yesG3483
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• letὀνίνημιoninēmi · to have joyG3685
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• of theeσύsu · youG4771
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• refreshἀναπαύωanapauō · to give restG373
• bowelsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• bowelsσπλάγχνονsplagchnon · affection/entrailsG4698
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Philemon 1:20

• 2 Corinthians 2:2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?
• 2 Corinthians 7:4I am very frank with you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in all our afflictions.
• Philippians 2:2make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
• Philippians 4:1So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
• 1 Thessalonians 3:7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith.
• Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
• 3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.
• Philemon 1:7For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
• Philippians 1:8For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
• Philippians 2:1If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
• 1 John 3:17If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him — how does God’s love reside in him?

Commentaries on Philemon 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Yea, brother - It is even so, that thou art thus indebted to me. Let me have joy of thee, in forgiving Onesimus, and receiving him into thy favor. In the words , which we should translate, let me have Profit of thee, there is an evident paronomasia, or play on the name of Onesimus. See on Philemon 1:2; (note), Philemon 1:11; (note). Refresh my bowels - Gratify the earnest longing of my soul in this. I ask neither thy money nor goods; I ask what will…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord - “By showing me this favor in receiving my friend and brother as I request.” The phrase “in the Lord,” here seems to mean that, if this request was granted, he would recognize the hand of the Lord in it, and would receive it as a favor from him. Refresh my bowels in the Lord - The “bowels,” in the Scriptures, are uniformly spoken of as the seat of the affections - meaning commonly the upper viscera…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 When we speak of the nature of any sin or offence against God, the evil of it is not to be lessened; but in a penitent sinner, as God covers it, so must we. Such changed characters often become a blessing to all among whom they reside. Christianity does not do away our duties to others, but directs to the right doing of them. True penitents will be open in owning their faults, as doubtless Onesimus had been to Paul, upon his being awakened…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20let me have some benefit: Or do me this favor. The Greek word onaimēn (meaning “favor” or “benefit”) may be a wordplay on the name Onesimus, which can mean “useful” or “beneficial” (compare 1:11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. let me--"me" is emphatic: "Let me have profit (so Greek 'for joy,' onainen, referring to the name Onesimus, 'profitable') from thee, as thou shouldst have had from Onesimus"; for "thou owest thine ownself to me." in the Lord--not in worldly gain, but in thine increase in the graces of the Lord's Spirit [Alford]. my bowels--my heart. Gratify my feelings by granting this request. in the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "in Christ," the element or…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Refresh; Refreshing

Commentaries on Philemon 1

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