Philemon 1 · Verse 20

Philemon 1:20

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Philemon 1:20, King James Version

Philemon 1:20 in other translations

BSBYes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
WEBYes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
ASVYea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.
YLTYes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;
DARBYYea, brother, I would have profit of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.
BBESo brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.
WebsterYes, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

What does Philemon 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. 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 sphere in which this act of Christian love naturally ought to have place.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord. "By showing me this favour 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 recognise the hand of the Lord in it, and would receive it as a favour 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, embracing the heart and the lungs. Isa 16:11. The reason is, that in any deep emotion this part of our frame is peculiarly affected, or we feel it there. Comp. Robinson's Lex. on the word σπλαγχνον. See this illustrated at length in Sir Charles Bell's "Anatomy of Expression," p. 85, seq. Ed. London, 1844. The idea here is, that Paul had such a tender affection for Onesimus as to give him great concern and uneasiness. The word rendered "refresh"--αναπαυσον--means to give rest to, to give repose, to free from sorrow or care; and the sense is, that by receiving Onesimus, Philemon would cause the deep and anxious feelings of Paul to cease, and he would be calm and happy. Comp. Phm 1:7.

(a) "refresh" Phm 1:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Yea, 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 εγε σου οναιμην, which we should translate, let me have Profit of thee, there is an evident paronomasia, or play on the name of Onesimus. See on Plm 1:2 (note), Plm 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 enrich, not impoverish, thee to give.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philemon 1:15-22

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…

Read the full comment on Philemon 1:15-22 →

Philemon 1:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ναί,naiYes,G3483
ἀδελφέ,adelphebrother,G80
ἐγώegōI myselfG1473
σουsoufrom youG4771
ὀναίμηνonaimēnI would have profitG3685
ἐνeninG1722
κυρίῳ·kuriō[the] Lord;G2962
ἀνάπαυσόνanapausondo refreshG373
μουmoumyG3165
τὰta<the>G3588
σπλάγχναsplagchnaheartG4698
ἐνeninG1722
Χριστῷ.¶ChristōChrist.G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philemon 1:20

  • Philemon 1:7

    For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

  • 3 John 1:4

    I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

  • Hebrews 13:17

    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

  • Philemon 1:12

    Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9

    Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

  • Philippians 4:1

    Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  • Philippians 1:8

    For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:4-7

    Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:13

    Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

    For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:2

    For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
let me.
2Co 2:2; 7:4-7,13; Php 2:2; 4:1; 1Th 2:19,20; 3:7-9; Heb 13:17; 3Jo 1:4
refresh.
7,12; Php 1:8; 2:1; 1Jo 3:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Philemon 1:19

    I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

  • Philemon 1:20

    Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

  • Philemon 1:21

    Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Read all of Philemon 1

Philemon 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sí, hermano, góceme yo de ti en el Señor; recrea mis entrañas en el Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Oui, frère, que moi, je tire ce profit de toi dans le Seigneur: rafraîchis mes entrailles en Christ.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ja, Bruder, ich möchte gern Nutzen an dir haben im Herrn; erquicke mein Herz in Christo.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ita, frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: refice viscera mea in Domino.