Bible Verses

Philemon · Chapter 1 · Encouragement

Philemon 1:7 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

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Topics #encouragement
Read in chapter context · Philemon 1

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother."

KJV · King James Version

"For1063 we have2192 great4183 joy5485 and2532 consolation3874 in1909 thy4675 love26, because3754 the bowels4698 of the saints40 are refreshed373 by1223 thee4675, brother80."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses great, consolation, thy, bowels, while the WEB renders these as much, comfort, your, hearts. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Philemon 1:7 in Philemon 1

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Philemon 1:7 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Philemon 1. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
  2. v.6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
  3. v.7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
  4. v.8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
  5. v.9 yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Book background

About the Book of Philemon

Testament
New Testament
Genre
Pauline epistle
Author
Paul
Date written
c. 60–62 AD
Audience
Philemon, a wealthy Christian slave-owner in Colossae
Chapters
1

Philemon is Paul's tactful 25-verse plea on behalf of Onesimus — a runaway slave who had come to Christ — that his master Philemon would receive him back "no longer as a slave… but as a beloved brother" (v. 16). The letter is the gospel applied at the most uncomfortable social pressure point of the first century.

Setting: A 25-verse personal letter; written from prison.

Key themes: forgiveness · reconciliation · partnership · transformation · gospel

Read Philemon from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Philemon 1:7

Philemon 1:7 contains 22 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    For we have much joy and comfort in your love

    FWHMJA

  2. 2

    because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you

    BTHOTS

  3. 3

    brother.

    B

Frequently asked

FAQ about Philemon 1:7

What does Philemon 1:7 say?

Philemon 1:7 reads: "For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother." — from the New Testament, Philemon (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Philemon 1:7 in?

Philemon 1:7 is in the book of Philemon, traditionally attributed to Paul and written around c. 60–62 AD. Philemon is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to Philemon, a wealthy Christian slave-owner in Colossae. Best known for reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus.

What is Philemon 1:7 about?

Philemon 1:7 is primarily a Bible verse about Encouragement. Within Philemon, Philemon is Paul's tactful 25-verse plea on behalf of Onesimus — a runaway slave who had come to Christ — that his master Philemon would receive him back "no longer as a slave… but as a beloved brother" (v. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Philemon 1:7 in WEB and KJV?

Philemon 1:7 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "For1063 we have2192 great4183 joy5485 and2532 consolation3874 in1909 thy4675 love26, because3754 the bowels4698 of the saints40 are refreshed373 by1223 thee4675, brother80.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Philemon 1:7?

Philemon 1:7 is 22 words in the WEB translation (121 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 7 seconds.

How can I memorise Philemon 1:7?

To memorise Philemon 1:7, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Philemon 1:7 matter in Philemon?

Philemon is Paul's tactful 25-verse plea on behalf of Onesimus — a runaway slave who had come to Christ — that his master Philemon would receive him back "no longer as a slave… but as a beloved brother" (v. 16). The letter is the gospel applied at the most uncomfortable social pressure point of the first century. Philemon 1:7 sits within this larger story — Philemon as a whole emphasises forgiveness, reconciliation, partnership.

How can I apply Philemon 1:7 today?

Many readers use Philemon 1:7 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Philemon 1:7 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.