The Meaning of Philippians 2:27 Explained

Philippians 2:27

KJV: For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

YLT: for he also ailed nigh to death, but God did deal kindly with him, and not with him only, but also with me, that sorrow upon sorrow I might not have.

Darby: for he was also sick close to death, but God had mercy on him, and not indeed on him alone, but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

ASV: for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Discover Philippians 2:27

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Philippians 2:27?

MEANING: What does Philippians 2:27 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Philippians 2:27 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Philippians 2:27?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  indeed  he was sick  nigh  unto death:  but  God  had mercy  on him;  and  not  on him  only,  but  on me  also,  lest  I should have  sorrow  upon  sorrow. 

What does Philippians 2:27 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul gave God the credit for restoring Epaphroditus to health when he had been at death"s door. Epaphroditus" death would have increased Paul"s sorrow over his brother"s illness. Evidently Paul did not have the ability to heal everyone whom he wished would be healthy, even his fellow workers. [1] Divine healing has always been subject to the will of God and not something someone can do whenever he or she wants to.

Context Summary

Philippians 2:19-30 - Honoring Christian Messengers
The Apostle nobly honored the younger men who wrought with him. He speaks of Timothy as his son, and expatiates on the genuineness of his loving interest in each of his converts. He describes Epaphroditus as his brother, fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier. How tenderly he refers to his sickness and recovery, as though God had conferred on himself special favor in giving back this beloved comrade in the great fight!
It is well worth while to ponder the remark that God does not add sorrow to sorrow, Philippians 2:27. He tempers His wind to the shorn lamb. He cautions the accuser that he must not take Job's life. With the trial He makes the way of escape. He keeps His finger on the wrist while the operation is in progress, and stays it as soon as the pulse flutters. Not sorrow upon sorrow! Note also that "hazarding" of life, Philippians 2:30, r.v. It was a common experience in those great days of Christ's suffering Church, Acts 15:26. How strange it is today to watch the sacrifices that men and women will make in times of war, when a new spirit is stirring in the world and men adventure everything for liberty, righteousness, and fatherland, and then compare this extravagant expenditure of blood and treasure with what we have done for Jesus. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 2

1  Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12  to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16  and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God
19  He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also

Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:27

Sorrow upon sorrow [λύπην ἐπὶ λύπην]
The accusative implies motion. Sorrow coming upon sorrow, as wave after wave. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 2:27 mean?

And indeed he was sick nearly unto death but - God had mercy on him not on him now alone also on me that not sorrow upon I should have
καὶ γὰρ ἠσθένησεν παραπλήσιον θανάτῳ ἀλλὰ ὁ Θεὸς ἠλέησεν αὐτόν οὐκ αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον καὶ ἐμέ ἵνα μὴ λύπην ἐπὶ σχῶ

γὰρ  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: γάρ  
Sense: for.
ἠσθένησεν  he  was  sick 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀσθενέω  
Sense: to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless.
παραπλήσιον  nearly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: παραπλήσιος  
Sense: near to, almost to.
θανάτῳ  unto  death 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.
ὁ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἠλέησεν  had  mercy  on 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐλεέω 
Sense: to have mercy on.
αὐτὸν  on  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
μόνον  alone 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: μόνος  
Sense: alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐμέ  on  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
λύπην  sorrow 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: λύπη  
Sense: sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction.
ἐπὶ  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
σχῶ  I  should  have 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.

What are the major concepts related to Philippians 2:27?

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