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

25Whatever happens, I think I must send Epaphroditus to come back to you. He is our true Christian brother. He has worked with me to serve God together. We have worked hard, like soldiers. When I needed help, you sent him to me. He has helped me on your behalf. 26Now he wants very much to see all of you again. He became very sad, because you heard the message that he was ill. Certainly, he was very ill, and he almost died. But God was kind to him. And God was kind to me too. If Epaphroditus had died, I would have become even more sad. 28So I want even more to send him back to you. Then you can be really happy, and I will not feel sad any more. 29Receive Epaphroditus well when he comes, and be happy. Like you, he belongs to the Lord's people. You should respect people like him and be kind to them.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• indeedκαίkai · andG2532
• he was sickἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: illG770
• nigh untoπαραπλήσιονparaplēsion · almostG3897
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• had mercy onἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andδέde · thenG1161
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• on meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• lestμήmē · notG3361
• I should haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• sorrowλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909

Cross-references for Philippians 2:27

• Philippians 2:30He nearly died because he was working to serve Christ. He came to help me, because you could not help me yourselves. He was even ready to die so that he could do that on your behalf.
• 2 Kings 20:1At that time, Hezekiah became very ill. He nearly died. Then Amoz's son, Isaiah the prophet, went to Hezekiah. He said to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You will soon die. You will not get better. So you must tell your family what to do after your death.” ’
• Psalms 107:18They did not want to eat any food, so they nearly died.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1I thought about all these things so that I could understand them. I realized that God controls what happens to people. That includes righteous people and wise people. God decides the things that they do. Nobody knows what will happen in their lives. Other people may love them, or they may hate them.
• John 11:3So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus to say, ‘Lord, the friend that you love is ill.’
• Acts 9:37Dorcas became very ill and then she died. Women washed her body and they put it in a room upstairs.
• Job 5:19If trouble comes to you six times, he will rescue you. No bad thing will hurt you, as often as it happens.
• Psalms 30:1Lord, I will praise you, because you have saved me from death. You have not let my enemies laugh at me.
• Psalms 34:19Righteous people may often have troubles, but the Lord saves them from every danger.
• Psalms 103:3He forgives all my sins. He makes me well again when I am ill.
• Psalms 107:19Because of their trouble, they called to the Lord for help. He rescued them from their troubles.
• Isaiah 38:17Yes, it was good for me to have this trouble. You rescued me from the deep hole of death. You removed my sins, and you put them behind your back.
• Isaiah 43:2When you go through deep water, I will be with you. When you cross dangerous rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, it will not burn you. The flames will not destroy you.
• Acts 9:39Peter then returned to Joppa with the two men. When he arrived at Dorcas's house, some women took him upstairs. Many widows were there and they were crying. They all stood there, near to Peter. They showed him the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
• Isaiah 27:8But Lord you sent your people to a land far away. That is how you punished them. You blew them away with a storm that came from the east.
• Jeremiah 8:18I said, ‘I am very sad and upset. I will never get better again.

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