Philemon Chapter 1 verse 12 Holy Bible
whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:
read chapter 1 in ASV
Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:
read chapter 1 in BBE
whom I have sent back to thee: [but do *thou* receive] him, that is, *my* bowels:
read chapter 1 in DARBY
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
read chapter 1 in WEB
whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,
read chapter 1 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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. . . .
