Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Philemon 1:20 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 20. 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Paul asks Philemon for benefit in the Lord and for the same heart-refreshing action that verse 7 praised.
Read It With
- Philemon 1:17–20
Read Philemon 1:17–20 as a complete movement. Verse 17 commands reception on the basis of partnership; verses 18–19 handle any debt and Paul's guarantee; verse 20 echoes the earlier heart-refreshing language.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Paul completes the direct request by returning to the heart-refreshing language that praised Philemon in verse 7.
Read Philemon 1:17–20 together
Why these verses belong together: Partnership becomes concrete through reception, conditional accounting, repayment, relational obligation, and the repeated request to refresh Paul's heart.
Verse 17. 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
Verse 18. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
Verse 19. 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.
Verse 20. 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
What Remains True
The requested reception would refresh Paul's heart and extend the same love for which Philemon was praised earlier.
How It Can Shape Life
- Let a history of care become consistent care for the specific person before you, not merely a reputation preserved through selective generosity.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Philemon 1:17–20 — Partnership Becomes Reception and Accountable CostSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact KJV wording and immediate English context for Philemon 1:17–20.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philemon 1:17–20; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, pronoun number, connective structure, and relevant lexical forms.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phlm.txt, Phlm 1:17–20.
Open the Philemon Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Philemon with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material translation choices, difficult syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible, Philemon 1, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 17–20.
Open NET Philemon 1 ↗modern annotated new testament
Philemon introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament, second edition
Barbara Geller; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2017
Supports: Modern historical and verse-level checks on authorship, setting, slavery, rhetoric, reconstruction limits, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: Barbara Geller, Philemon introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2nd ed., print pp. 404–405.
Open source ↗