One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.
Parallel translations
- WEB Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
- KJV But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
- BSB In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
- NKJV But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
- NASB At the same time also prepare me a guest room, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul asks Philemon to prepare a guest room, hoping to visit after his release. The expected visit adds gentle accountability and warm anticipation.
Overview
Paul is confident that the prayers of the believers will lead to his freedom and a personal reunion. The promise of a visit assures Philemon of Paul's ongoing fellowship and quietly encourages him to handle the matter of Onesimus well before Paul arrives. It also reflects Paul's firm belief that God answers the intercession of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Cor 1:11you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
- Phil 2:24But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
- 2 Jn 1:12Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
- Phil 1:19For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
- Acts 28:23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
- Jas 5:16Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
- Rom 15:24whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
- Heb 13:23Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.
- 3 Jn 1:14but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
- Rom 15:30–32Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
- Heb 13:19I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.
- Phil 1:25–26Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The plea to receive a runaway slave as a beloved brother, charging his debt to Paul's account, is a living picture of how Christ receives us and pays what we owe.
How Philemon 1:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.