I am sending … back represents the epistolary aorist (see Col 4.8). What follows in Greek, “that is, my own heart,” is in apposition to “him.” What Paul means is that his love, concern, and most intimate feelings are tied up with Onesimus future, and in returning him to Philemon, Paul is sending his own deepest interests. It is as though Paul himself were going to Philemon.

In selecting a verb to translate sending, it is important to employ a term which is applicable to individuals and not merely to objects. An appropriate translation of I am sending him back to you now must often be rendered as a causative, for example, “I am now causing him to go back to you,” or “… to travel back to you,” or “… to return to you.”

The clause and with him goes my heart is an excellent idiomatic rendering of the underlying Greek text, but it is rare that such an expression can be translated literally into other languages. A more appropriate equivalent may be “he is one who is very dear to me” or “I love him very much.”

This verse was much altered by copyists; for a late resultant text, see King James Version.

The Greek for heart here is the same as in verse 7.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .