Philemon 1:10

Philemon 1:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
• New International Version (NIV)that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

Context of Philemon 1:10

8Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting, 9for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ. I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus, 11once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me: 12whom I have sent back to thee: [but do thou receive] him, that is, my bowels:

Philemon 1:10 word by word

παρακαλῶ σε περὶ τοῦ ἐμοῦ τέκνου ὃν ἐγέννησα ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς Ὀνήσιμον,Read the interlinear

• exhortπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• childτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• begottenγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• OnesimusὈνήσιμοςO̓nēsimos · OnesimusG3682

Cross-references for Philemon 1:10

• 2 Samuel 9:1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
• 2 Samuel 18:5And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 19:37Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham: let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to thee.
• Mark 9:17And one out of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought to thee my son, who has a dumb spirit;
• 1 Timothy 1:2to Timotheus, [my] true child in faith: grace, mercy, peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Colossians 4:9with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is [one] of you. They shall make known to you everything here.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings.
• Galatians 4:19my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:

Commentaries on Philemon 1:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus - It is evident from this that Onesimus was converted by St. Paul while he was prisoner at Rome, and perhaps not long before he wrote this epistle.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus - That is, my son in the gospel; one to whom I sustain the relation of a spiritual father; compare the notes at 1 Timothy 1:2. The address and tact of Paul here are worthy of particular observation. Any other mode of bringing the case before the mind of Philemon might have repelled him. If he had simply said, “I beseech thee for Onesimus;” or, “I beseech thee for thy servant Onesimus,” he would at once have reverted to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 It does not lower any one to condescend, and sometimes even to beseech, where, in strictness of right, we might command: the apostle argues from love, rather than authority, in behalf of one converted through his means; and this was Onesimus. In allusion to that name, which signifies "profitable," the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to Philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he had become profitable…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10In the Roman world, owners could be harsh towards slaves who ran away. They could whip, mark, or even execute them. Onesimus was Paul's spiritual child because he became a Christian through Paul's ministry.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. I beseech thee--emphatically repeated from Phm 9. In the Greek, the name "Onesimus" is skilfully put last, he puts first a favorable description of him before he mentions the name that had fallen into so bad repute with Philemon. "I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus." Scripture does not sanction slavery, but at the same time does not begin a political crusade against it. It sets forth principles of love to our fellow…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Begotten
• Child; Children
• Onesimus
• Philemon, Epistle to

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