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

8I want to ask you to do something. I am sure that Christ has given me authority. So I could tell you strongly what you should do. 9But instead, because of love, I will ask you, ‘Please do it.’ I, Paul, am an old man. Also, I am in prison now because I serve Christ Jesus. So I am asking you to help Onesimus, who is like my own child. I taught him about Jesus while I was in prison. Because of that, he now has life with God. I am like his father. 11Before he trusted Jesus, Onesimus did not really help you. But now he can help both you and me. 12So I am now sending him back to you. Because I love him, it is like I am sending you my own heart.

Philemon 1:10 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• I beseechπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• sonτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• OnesimusὈνήσιμοςO̓nēsimos · OnesimusG3682
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I have begottenγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• bondsδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199

Cross-references for Philemon 1:10

• 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, ‘Is there anyone from Saul's family who is still alive? I want to be kind to them because Jonathan was my friend.’
• 2 Samuel 18:5The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, ‘Because the young man Absalom is my son, do not hurt him.’ All the soldiers heard David give this command to the three officers.
• 2 Samuel 19:37Let me return to my own town, sir. Then I will die there. They can bury me near the grave of my father and my mother. Look! Here is my son, Kimham. Let him go with you, my lord the king. Please do for him whatever you think is right.’
• Mark 9:17A man in the crowd answered. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is not able to speak because he has a bad spirit.
• 1 Timothy 1:2I am writing to you, Timothy. I told you the message about Jesus and you believed in him. So you are like my own child. I pray that God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord will continue to help you and be kind to you. I pray that they will give you peace in your mind.
• Colossians 4:9Onesimus will travel with him. As you know, he is one of your own people. He is a good Christian friend who serves Christ well. Onesimus and Tychicus will tell you everything that is happening here.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15When I told the good news about Jesus Christ to you, I became like a father for you. You may have ten thousand teachers to help you understand the message about Christ. But I am the only person who is like a father for you.
• Galatians 4:19My children, I feel like a mother who is giving birth to you again. I will continue to feel that kind of pain until you become more completely like Christ.

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