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

25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 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. 28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.

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 risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
• 2 Kings 20:1About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
• Psalms 107:18They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.
• John 11:3So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
• Acts 9:37About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.
• Job 5:19From six disasters he will rescue you; even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.
• Psalms 30:1I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
• Psalms 34:19The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
• Psalms 103:3He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
• Psalms 107:19“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
• Isaiah 38:17Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.
• Isaiah 43:2When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
• Acts 9:39So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.
• Isaiah 27:8No, but he exiled Israel to call her to account. She was exiled from her land as though blown away in a storm from the east.
• Jeremiah 8:18My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.

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