Philippians 4 · Verse 10

Philippians 4:10

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:10, King James Version

Philippians 4:10 in other translations

BSB	Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
WEB	But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
ASV	But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.
YLT	And I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye flourished again in caring for me, for which also ye were caring, and lacked opportunity;
DARBY	But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now however at length ye have revived your thinking of me, though surely ye did also think of me, but lacked opportunity.
BBE	But I am very glad in the Lord that your care for me has come to life again; though you did in fact take thought for me, but you were not able to give effect to it.
Webster	But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

What does Philippians 4:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. But--transitional conjunction. But "now" to pass to another subject. in the Lord--He views everything with reference to Christ. at the last--"at last"; implying he was expecting their gift, not from a selfish view, but as a "fruit" of their faith, and to "abound" to their account (Php 4:11, 17). Though long in coming, owing to Epaphroditus' sickness and other delays, he does not imply their gift was too late. your care ... hath flourished again--Greek, "Ye have flourished again (revived, as trees sprouting forth again in spring) in your care for me." wherein ye were also careful--in respect to which (revival, namely, the sending of a supply to me) "ye were also (all along) careful, but ye lacked opportunity"; whether from want of means or want of a messenger. Your "lack of service" (Php 2:30), was owing to your having "lacked opportunity."

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. The favour which Paul had received, and for which he felt so much gratitude, had been received of the Philippians; but he regarded "the Lord" as the source of it, and rejoiced in it as the expression of his kindness. The effect was to lead his heart with cheerfulness and joy up to God.

That now at the last. After so long a time. The reason why he had not before received the favour, was not neglect or inattention on their part, but the difficulty of having communication with him.

Your care of me hath flourished again. In the margin this is rendered, "is revived," and this is the proper meaning of the Greek word. It is a word properly applicable to plants or flowers, meaning to grow green again; to flourish again; to spring up again. Here the meaning is, that they had been again prospered in their care of him, and to Paul it seemed as if their care had sprung up anew.

Wherein ye were also careful. That is, they were desirous to render him assistance, and to minister to his wants. Paul adds this, lest they should think he was disposed to blame them for inattention.

But ye lacked opportunity. Because there were no persons going to Rome from Philippi by whom they could send to him. The distance was considerable, and it is not probable that the intercourse between the two places was very constant.

(1) "hath flourished" "is revived" (*) "lacked" "wanted" (h) "opportunity" 2Cor 11:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord - Every good comes from God, either immediately from his providence or from his grace; therefore the apostle thanks God for the kindness of the Philippians towards him; for it was God that gave them the power, and directed their hearts to use it. Hath flourished again - They had helped him before, Phi 2:25; they had ceased for a time, and now they began again. This is evidently designed by the apostle, as the word ανεθαλετε implies, which is a metaphor taken from the reviviscence of flowers in spring which seemed dead in winter. For the time in which they were apparently remiss he makes a delicate apology: Ye were careful, but ye lacked opportunity; or rather ηκαιρεισθε, ye had not ability, ye wanted the means; as the word sometimes implies.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philippians 4:10-19

It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Philippians 4:10 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.

ἘχάρηνEcharēnI rejoicedG5463

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἐνeninG1722

κυρίῳkuriō[the] LordG2962

μεγάλωςmegalōsgreatlyG3171

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἤδηēdēnowG2235

ποτὲpoteat lastG4218

ἀνεθάλετεanethaleteyou revivedG330

τὸtotheG3588

ὑπὲρhuperforG5228

ἐμοῦemoumeG1473

φρονεῖν·phroneincaring;G5426

ἐφ᾽eph᾽whereinG1909

ᾧhōwhichG3739

καὶkaialsoG2532

ἐφρονεῖτε,ephroneiteyou were concerned,G5426

ἠκαιρεῖσθεēkaireistheyou were lacking opportunityG170

δέ.dehowever.G1161

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

Cross references for Philippians 4:10

2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
Galatians 6:6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7
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.
Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Philippians 1:3
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
2 Corinthians 6:7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Psalms 85:6
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Philippians 2:30
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Hosea 14:7
They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I.
1:1,3; 2Co 7:6,7
your.
2Co 11:9; Ga 6:6
hath flourished. or, is revived.
Ps 85:6; Ho 14:7
ye lacked.
2Co 6:7; Ga 6:10

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

Context

Philippians 4:9
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:10
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Read all of Philippians 4

Philippians 4:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas en gran manera me gocé en el Señor de que ya al fin ha reflorecido vuestro cuidado de mí; de lo cual aun estabais solícitos, pero os faltaba la oportunidad.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or je me suis grandement réjoui dans le Seigneur de ce que maintenant enfin vous avez fait revivre votre pensée pour moi, quoique vous y ayez bien aussi pensé, mais l’occasion vous manquait;
German Elberfelder 1871	Ich habe mich aber im Herrn sehr gefreut, daß ihr endlich einmal wieder aufgelebt seid, meiner zu gedenken; wiewohl ihr auch meiner gedachtet, aber ihr hattet keine Gelegenheit.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Gavisus sum autem in Domino vehementer, quoniam tandem aliquando refloruistis pro me sentire, sicut et sentiebatis: occupati autem eratis.