Bible Strands
Philemon 1:15
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Philemon, a house-church leader, while imprisoned, addressing the immediate return of his runaway slave Onesimus. The letter intervenes in a personal relationship crisis to redirect how the master should receive the slave.
The words — The Greek τάχα (tacha) translates literally as "perhaps" or "for a while," marking the separation as temporary. The phrase διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto) means "because of this," directly tying the temporary loss to a specific purpose.
The thread — The text parallels Genesis 50:20, where a temporary evil act becomes the mechanism for lasting preservation. It also aligns with Genesis 45:5, which frames a forced departure as the means to sustain life.
Why it lands — The verse states that a present separation may have occurred specifically to produce a permanent restoration. It asks the reader to stop treating disruption as meaningless and to act in ways that honor the resulting, lasting reconciliation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
Cross-references
- Genesis 50:20 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.
- Genesis 45:5 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.
- Isaiah 20:6 And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
- Acts 4:28 They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
- Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.