New English Translation
Philippians 2:27
27In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief.
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
25But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. 26Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him – and not to him only, but also to me – so that I would not have grief on top of grief. 28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. 29So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 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 2:30since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.
- 2 Kings 20:1In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Give your household instructions, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’”
- Psalms 107:18They lost their appetite for all food, and they drew near the gates of death.
- Ecclesiastes 9:1So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated – no one knows what lies ahead.
- John 11:3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, look, the one you love is sick.”
- Acts 9:37At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room.
- Job 5:19He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you.
- Psalms 30:1I will praise you, O Lord, for you lifted me up, and did not allow my enemies to gloat over me.
- Psalms 34:19The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them.
- Psalms 103:3He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,
- Psalms 107:19They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.
- Isaiah 38:17“Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit. You delivered me from the pit of oblivion. For you removed all my sins from your sight.
- Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.
- Acts 9:39So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
- Isaiah 27:8When you summon her for divorce, you prosecute her; he drives her away with his strong wind in the day of the east wind.
- Jeremiah 8:18Then I said, “There is no cure for my grief! I am sick at heart!
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
In the dictionaries
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
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