The Meaning of Philemon 1:12 Explained

Philemon 1:12

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

YLT: whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

Darby: whom I have sent back to thee: but do thou receive him, that is, my bowels:

ASV: whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Philemon 1:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Philemon 1:1-14 - A Plea For The Returning Slave
Onesimus had known the Apostle well in the old days when Paul visited at the house of his master Philemon, who seems to have been a man of importance. His house was large enough to admit of a church assembling in it, and to accommodate the Apostle and his traveling companions when they came to the city. Apphia, his wife, was also a Christian, and Archippus, their son, was engaged in some kind of Christian work in connection with the infant Christian community which they were nursing. Compare Philemon 1:1-2 with Colossians 4:17. It is beautiful to observe the Apostle's humility in associating these obscure people with himself as fellow-workers.
Onesimus had been a runaway slave, and fleeing to Rome, had been converted by the ministry of Paul-whom I have begotten in my bonds. The converted slave had become very dear and useful to his benefactor, Philemon 1:12-13. The Apostle now sends him back to his former owner with this letter, pleading that he be once more received into the household of Philemon. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philemon 1

1  Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8  whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again

Greek Commentary for Philemon 1:12

I have sent back [ανεπεμπσα]
Epistolary aorist. As it will look when Onesimus arrives. [source]
In his own person [αυτον]
“Himself,” intensive pronoun with ον — hon (whom). My very heart (τα εμα σπλαγχνα — ta ema splagchna). As in Philemon 1:7. He almost loves Onesimus as his own son. [source]
My very heart [τα εμα σπλαγχνα]
As in Philemon 1:7. He almost loves Onesimus as his own son. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Philemon 1:12

Mark 8:2 I have compassion [σπλαγχνίξομαι]
A peculiar verb, from σπλάγχνα , the inward parts, especially the nobler entrails - the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These came gradually to denote the seat of the affections, like our word heart. This explains the frequent use of the word bowels in the A. V. in the sense of tender mercy, affection, compassion. See Luke 1:78; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Philemon 1:8; Philemon 1:7, Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:20. The Rev. has properly rejected it in every such case, using it only in its literal sense in the single passage, Acts 1:18. [source]
Romans 1:15 So as much as in me is I am ready [ουτω το κατ εμε προτυμον]
Literally, “Thus the according to me affair is ready” It is an awkward idiom like to τα κατ εμε — ex humōn in Romans 12:18. The plural ta kat' eme we find in Philemon 1:12; Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:21. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:13 I would not have you to be ignorant [οὐ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν]
The Greek is, we would not, etc. A formula often used by Paul to call special attention to what he is about to say. See Romans 1:13; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 2:1, etc. He employs several similar expressions for the same purpose, as θέλω ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι Iwish you to know (1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 2:1): γινωρίζω ὑμῖν Ideclare unto you (1 Corinthians 15:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Galatians 1:11): γινώσκειν ὑμᾶς βούλομαι Iwould have you know (Philemon 1:12). [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Profiting [προκοπὴ]
Better, advance or progress. Only here and Philemon 1:12. The verb προκόπτειν in 2 Timothy 2:16; 2 Timothy 3:9, 2 Timothy 3:13. In lxx, see 2 Maccabees 8:8. The figure in the word is uncertain, but is supposed to be that of pioneers cutting ( κόπτω ) a way before ( πρὸ ) an army, and so furthering its advance. The opposite is ἐγκόπτειν to cut into, throw obstacles in the way, and so hinder. See Galatians href="/desk/?q=ga+5:7&sr=1">Galatians 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Peter 3:7. [source]
1 Timothy 2:8 I will [βούλομαι]
Better, I desire. See on Matthew 1:19, and comp. Philemon 1:12. Paul's word is θέλω Iwill. See Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 7:32; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:19, etc. [source]
1 Timothy 2:8 I desire [βουλομαι]
So Philemon 1:12. [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Give thyself wholly to them [εν τουτοις ιστι]
Present imperative second person singular of ειμι — eimi “keep on in these things.” Note five uses of εν — en in 1 Timothy 4:12 and three datives in 1 Timothy 4:14. Plutarch (Pomp. 656 B) says Caesar was εν τουτοις — en toutois (“in these things”). It is like our “up to his ears” in work Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Thy progress [σου η προκοπη]
Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
2 Timothy 4:17 Might be fully known [πληροφορηθῇ]
See on 2 Timothy 4:5. Lit. might be fulfilled; fully carried out by being proclaimed before rulers in the capital of the world. Comp. Romans 15:19; Acts 23:11; Acts 28:31; Philemon 1:12-14. [source]
2 Timothy 3:1  []
d Comp. the beginning of Philemon href="/desk/?q=phm+1:12&sr=1">Philemon 1:12; and θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι Iwould you should know, 1 Corinthians 11:3. [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 The testimony of our Lord [το μαρτυριον του κυριου]
For the old word μαρτυριον — marturion see note on 1 Corinthians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 2:1. Paul probably has in mind the saying of Jesus preserved in Mark 8:38 (Luke 9:26). See also 2 Timothy 2:12. His prisoner (τον δεσμιον αυτου — ton desmion autou). As in Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:1, Philemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1 (the first Roman captivity). Paul is in his last captivity and refers to it again in 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:9. Suffer hardship with First aorist active imperative of the double compound συνκακοπατεω — sunkakopatheō first known use and in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:3 (in eccles. writers). But κακοπατεω — kakopatheō to suffer evil, is old verb (2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5). Paul is fond of compounds of συν — sun Paul challenges Timothy by this verb which he apparently coins for the purpose to a joint According to the power of God (κατα δυναμιν τεου — kata dunamin theou). Given by God (2 Corinthians 6:7). [source]
2 Timothy 1:8 His prisoner [τον δεσμιον αυτου]
As in Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:1, Philemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1 (the first Roman captivity). Paul is in his last captivity and refers to it again in 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:9. [source]
2 Timothy 3:1 Know this [τουτο γινωσκε]
See note on 1 Corinthians 11:3; Philemon 1:12. [source]
Philemon 1:20 Refresh my heart in Christ [αναπαυσον μου τα σπλαγχνα εν Χριστωι]
See Philemon 1:7 for αναπαυσον — anapauson (first aorist active imperative of αναπαυω — anapauō) and σπλαγχνα — splagchna (3 times in this letter, Philemon 1:7, Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:20). [source]

What do the individual words in Philemon 1:12 mean?

whom I have sent back to you in person he who is - my very heart
ὃν ἀνέπεμψά σοι αὐτόν τοῦτ’ ἔστιν τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα

ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἀνέπεμψά  I  have  sent  back 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀναπέμπω  
Sense: to send up.
σοι  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
αὐτόν  in  person 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τοῦτ’  he  who 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐμὰ  my 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Neuter 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐμός  
Sense: my, mine, etc.
σπλάγχνα  very  heart 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σπλάγχνον  
Sense: bowels, intestines, (the heart, lungs, liver, etc.).