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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

Context of Philippians 2:27

25I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 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. 28I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,

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 2:30for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
• 2 Kings 20:1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.'"
• Psalms 107:18they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
• John 11:3So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
• Acts 9:37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
• Job 5:19He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.
• Psalms 30:1I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
• Psalms 34:19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
• Psalms 103:3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
• Psalms 107:19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
• Isaiah 38:17Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
• Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
• Acts 9:39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
• Isaiah 27:8Measure by measure, by exile you contended with them; he removed them with his fierce breath in the day of the east wind.
• Jeremiah 8:18My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick 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