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

18If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. So, because we’re brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ. 21I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask. 22One more thing—have a guest room ready for me. I hope that, because of your prayers, God will give me back 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 2:2After all, if I had made you uncomfortable, how could you have cheered me up when you were uncomfortable?
• 2 Corinthians 7:4I have great confidence in you, and I have a lot of reasons to be proud of you. Even as we suffer, I’m encouraged and feel very happy.
• Philippians 2:2Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind.
• Philippians 4:1So, brothers and sisters, I love you and miss you. You are my joy and my crown. Therefore, dear friends, keep your relationship with the Lord firm!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19Who is our hope, joy, or prize that we can brag about in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Isn’t it you?
• 1 Thessalonians 3:7So brothers and sisters, your faith has encouraged us in all our distress and trouble.
• Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders, and accept their authority. They take care of you because they are responsible for you. Obey them so that they may do this work joyfully and not complain about you. (Causing them to complain would not be to your advantage.)
• 3 John 1:4Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
• Philemon 1:7Your love ⌞for God’s people⌟ gives me a lot of joy and encouragement. You, brother, have comforted God’s people.
• Philippians 1:8God is my witness that, with all the compassion of Christ Jesus, I long ⌞to see⌟ every one of you.
• Philippians 2:1So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion?
• 1 John 3:17Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer?

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