Philemon 1:20

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Free Bible Version

Yes, brother, I'm expecting this favor from you in the Lord; please make me happy in Christ.

Geneva Bible 1599

Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

Yes, my friend, you and me, we both belong to our leader, Jesus Christ, so I really want you to help me. Then I will feel really happy.

Translation for Translators

◄Yes/I say it again►, my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe in Christ.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation

Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

Context

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Summary

In this verse, Paul is interceding on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who had become a Christian under Paul's influence. Paul expresses his desire for Philemon to welcome Onesimus back not only as a servant but as a beloved brother in Christ. This plea reflects Paul's emphasis on reconciliation and unity within the body of believers, regardless of social status. It also serves as a powerful example of forgiveness and restoration, urging Philemon to demonstrate Christ-like love and grace towards Onesimus.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord,.... Through the apostle was his spiritual father, having been the instrument of his conversion, yet he calls him his brother, as being a partaker of the same grace, and a minister of the same Gospel; and intimates to him, that should he grant his request, and receive his servant again, it would give him great joy and pleasure, and that not of a carnal, but of a spiritual kind, even joy in the Lord; he should rejoice in the presence of the Lord, and before him, concerning him; he should rejoice in his faith in the Lord, and love for him, and obedience to him; all which would be discovered in such a conduct: the Syriac version renders it, as an assurance to himself, I shall be refreshed by thee in our Lord; not doubting but that he would gratify him in the thing he asked of him, which would be a refreshment to him; the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "may I enjoy thee in the Lord": meaning not his company and presence, either in this world, or in the world to come; but that he might enjoy or receive the favour from him he had petitioned him for, for the Lord's sake; the Arabic version renders it, as a reason why he should do it, "I have been profitable to thee in the Lord"; confirming what he had said before, that he owed himself to him; he having been useful to him in bringing him to the knowledge of Christ, and faith in him; and the Ethiopic version refers it to a promise, "I will repay in our Lord"; in spiritual things in our Lord, if not in things temporal: refresh my bowels in the Lord; or "in Christ"; as the Alexandrian copy, the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, read; and by his "bowels", he either means Onesimus, as in Plm 1:12 who, in a spiritual sense, came forth out of his bowels; or else himself, his soul, his spirit, his inward parts; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "refresh my soul"; and the sense is, that he desired in the Lord, and for his sake, that he would receive Onesimus again, which would give him an inward pleasure, and refresh his spirit; and indeed he intimates, that nothing could be more cheering and reviving to him.

Philemon 1:20

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Free Bible Version

Yes, brother, I'm expecting this favor from you in the Lord; please make me happy in Christ.

Geneva Bible 1599

Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

Yes, my friend, you and me, we both belong to our leader, Jesus Christ, so I really want you to help me. Then I will feel really happy.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation

Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Philemon 1:20

Verse

Context

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Philemon 1:20

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes