Philemon 1 · Verse 7

Philemon 1:7

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Philemon 1:7, King James Version

Philemon 1:7 in other translations

BSBI take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
WEBFor we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
ASVFor I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
YLTfor we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
DARBYFor we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
BBEFor I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.
WebsterFor we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

What does Philemon 1:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. For--a reason for the prayer, Phm 4-6. we have--Greek, "we had." joy and consolation--joined in 2Co 7:4. saints are refreshed by thee--His house was open to them. brother--put last, to conciliate his favorable attention to the request which follows.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love. In thy love towards Christians. The word here rendered joy (χαριν,) properly means grace, A large number of manuscripts, however, instead of this word, have χαραν, charan--joy. See Wetstein. This reading has been adopted by Griesbach, Tittman, and Hahn.

Because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. For your kindness to them. The word bowels here probably means minds, hearts, for it is used in the Scriptures to denote the affections. The sense is, that the kindness which he had shown to Christians had done much to make them happy. On the word refreshed, see 2Cor 7:13, 2Ti 1:16.

(d) "refreshed by thee" 2Cor 7:13, 2Ti 1:16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 For we have great joy - This verse does not read harmoniously. The Greek authorizes the following arrangement: For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, O brother, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee. The apostle speaks here of the works of charity in which Philemon abounded towards poor Christians.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philemon 1:1-7

Faith in Christ, and love to him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite the people of the world. Paul in his private prayers was particular in remembering his friends. We must remember Christian friends much and often, as their cases may need, bearing them in our thoughts, and upon our hearts, before our God. Different sentiments and ways in what is not essential, must not make…

Read the full comment on Philemon 1:1-7 →

Philemon 1:7 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.

χαρὰνcharanJoyG5479
γὰρgarforG1063
πολλὴνpollēngreatG4183
ἔσχονeschonI haveG2192
καὶkaiandG2532
παράκλησινparaklēsinencouragementG3874
ἐπὶepiby occasion ofG1909
τῇtēatheG3588
ἀγάπῃagapēloveG26
σου,souof you,G4771
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
τὰtatheG3588
σπλάγχναsplagchnaheartsG4698
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἁγίωνhagiōnsaintsG40
ἀναπέπαυταιanapepautaihave been refreshedG373
διὰdiathroughG1223
σοῦ,souyou,G4771
ἀδελφέ.¶adelphebrother.G80

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

Cross references for Philemon 1:7

  • 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:4

    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.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:9

    For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

  • 3 John 1:3-6

    For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:19

    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?

  • Philemon 1:20

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

  • 2 Timothy 1:16

    The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

  • 2 John 1:4

    I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3

    Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
great joy.
1Th 1:3; 2:13,19; 3:9; 2Jo 1:4; 3Jo 1:3-6
the bowels.
20; 2Co 7:13; 2Ti 1:16

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

Context

  • Philemon 1:6

    That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

  • Philemon 1:7

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

  • Philemon 1:8

    Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Read all of Philemon 1

Philemon 1:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque tenemos gran gozo y consolación de tu caridad, de que por ti, oh hermano, han sido recreadas las entrañas de los santos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Car nous avons une grande joie et une grande consolation dans ton amour, parce que les entrailles des saints sont rafraîchies par toi, frère.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn wir haben große Freude und großen Trost durch deine Liebe, weil die Herzen der Heiligen durch dich, Bruder, erquickt worden sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in caritate tua: quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.