Philemon 1:20 (WEB)

Passage

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Nearby Context

Philemon 1:18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

Philemon 1:19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

Philemon 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

Philemon 1:22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "brother", "lord", "refresh", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "brother" and "lord", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "I Paul write this with my own..." into verse 21's "Having confidence in your obedience I write...", so "brother" and "lord" belong inside that flow. In Philemon context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "brother" and "lord" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.