Filémon 1:12

12 Doch gij, neem hem, dat is mijn ingewanden, weder aan;

Filémon 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Philemon 1:12

Whom I have sent again
From Rome to Colosse, or to Philemon, wherever he was, along with this epistle:

thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels;
meaning his son, who, in a spiritual sense, came out of his bowels, to whom he stood in the relation of a spiritual father; so the Syriac version renders it, as my son, so receive him; see ( Genesis 15:4 ) ( 2 Samuel 16:11 ) and for whom he had a most strong affection, and tender regard; his bowels yearned for him, and he suggests by this expression, that should he reject him, it would give him the utmost pain and uneasiness; and he should be obliged to cry out as the Prophet Jeremy did, "my bowels, my bowels, I am pained at the very heart"; ( Jeremiah 4:19 ) wherefore he entreats him to receive him again into his house and family, into his service, and into his heart and affections, where the apostle had received him.

Filémon 1:12 In-Context

10 Ik bid u dan voor mijn zoon, denwelken ik in mijn banden heb geteeld, namelijk Onesimus;

11 Die eertijds u onnut was, maar nu u en mij zeer nuttig; denwelken ik wedergezonden heb;

12 Doch gij, neem hem, dat is mijn ingewanden, weder aan;

13 Denwelken ik wel had willen bij mij behouden, opdat hij mij voor u dienen zou in de banden des Evangelies.

14 Maar ik heb zonder uw goedvinden niets willen doen, opdat uw goeddadigheid niet zou zijn als naar bedwang, maar naar vrijwilligheid.