Philemon 1:12
New International Version
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

New Living Translation
I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

English Standard Version
I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.

Berean Standard Bible
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

Berean Literal Bible
whom I have sent back to you in person--he who is my very heart--

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

New King James Version
I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

New American Standard Bible
I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

NASB 1995
I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

NASB 1977
And I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

Legacy Standard Bible
I have sent him back to you in person, that is, my very heart,

Amplified Bible
I have sent him back to you in person, that is, like sending my very heart.

Christian Standard Bible
I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am sending him back to you as a part of myself.

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

Contemporary English Version
Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself.

Good News Translation
I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart.

International Standard Version
As I send him back, it's like I'm coming along with him.

Majority Standard Bible
I am (him) sending back for you to receive him who is my very heart.

NET Bible
I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.

New Heart English Bible
I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels:

Weymouth New Testament
I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.

World English Bible
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whom I sent again to you—he who is my own heart,

Berean Literal Bible
whom I have sent back to you in person--he who is my very heart--

Young's Literal Translation
whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

Smith's Literal Translation
Whom I sent back: and thou him, that is, my bowels, receive again:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

New American Bible
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.

New Revised Standard Version
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I send him to you again: welcome him as my own boy:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And I sent him to you, so receive him as my son.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.

Godbey New Testament
him, that is my own heart.

Haweis New Testament
whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels:

Mace New Testament
I have sent him back, therefore receive him as one that I tenderly love.

Weymouth New Testament
I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.

Worrell New Testament
whom I sent back to you, in his own person, that is, my very heart;

Worsley New Testament
him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Appeal for Onesimus
11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. 13I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 2:7-8
So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. / Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

Colossians 4:9
With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Philippians 2:25-30
But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs. / For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. / He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ...

1 Corinthians 16:10-11
If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am. / No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

2 Corinthians 8:22-24
And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. / As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. / In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

Romans 16:1-2
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. / Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

2 Timothy 4:9-11
Make every effort to come to me quickly, / because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. / Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.

Acts 15:37-40
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. / But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. / Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ...

Galatians 4:14
And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

Ephesians 6:21-22
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing. / I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2
So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. / We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

Genesis 45:4-5
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Genesis 50:20-21
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Exodus 4:18
Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.

1 Samuel 25:32-35
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! / Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. / Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

Whom I have sent again: you therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels:

thou.

Matthew 6:14,15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: …

Matthew 18:21-35
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? …

Mark 11:25
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

mine.

Deuteronomy 13:6
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

2 Samuel 16:11
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

Jeremiah 31:20
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

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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.














I am sending him back to you
The phrase "I am sending" comes from the Greek word "ἀναπέμπω" (anapempō), which means to send up or send back. This action reflects Paul's deep respect for Philemon's authority and his desire to maintain the integrity of their relationship. In the historical context, sending a slave back to his master was a significant act, as it acknowledged the legal and social norms of the time. Paul’s decision to send Onesimus back underscores his commitment to reconciliation and the proper order within the Christian community. It also highlights the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls for a new kind of relationship between master and slave, one based on brotherhood in Christ.

him who is my very heart
The phrase "my very heart" is translated from the Greek "τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα" (ta ema splanchna), which literally means "my own bowels" or "my own inward parts." In ancient times, the bowels were considered the seat of emotions and deep affections. By using this expression, Paul is conveying the profound love and emotional connection he has with Onesimus. This is not merely a casual acquaintance; Onesimus has become deeply cherished by Paul, akin to a family member. Theologically, this reflects the Christian principle of love and unity within the body of Christ, where social distinctions are transcended by spiritual kinship. Historically, this level of affection for a slave would have been counter-cultural, challenging the societal norms and emphasizing the radical inclusivity of the Gospel message.

(12) Thou therefore receive him.--The word "receive" is not in the best MSS. It is supplied here from Philemon 1:17 (apparently rightly in respect of sense) to fill up a broken construction in the original.

Mine own bowels--i.e., my own heart, dear to me as my own soul. There is, indeed, an usage of the word which applies it to children as begotten of our own body. But this is hardly St. Paul's usage (see 2Corinthians 6:12; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1; Colossians 3:12; and Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:20 of this Epistle), though it suits very well with the phrase "whom I have begotten" above. . . .

Verse 12. - Whom I sent back [to thee, according to A, C, D*, E, אָ] (aorist for present); but the decision reflects the struggle. It had not been altogether easy for the apostle to part with the youth, whom he might not see again. The whole Epistle is full of this strong and yearning affection. Thou therefore receive him. Do thou also act as becomes a Christian; receive him as my son. "Wonderfully efficacious this method for appeasing the anger of Philemon! For he was not able to rage or to do anything harshly against one whom Paul had called his own bowels" (Estius). A, F, G, and א omit "receive," as also Tischendorf. The Revised Version omits this clause.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I am sending back
ἀνέπεμψά (anepempsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 375: To send up (to a higher tribunal), send back. From ana and pempo; to send up or back.

to you
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

him
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

who
τοῦτ’ (tout’)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

my
ἐμὰ (ema)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Neuter 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1699: My, mine. From the oblique cases of ego; my.

very heart.
σπλάγχνα (splanchna)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4698: Probably strengthened from splen; an intestine; figuratively, pity or sympathy.


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NT Letters: Philemon 1:12 I am sending him back (Phm Phl)
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