Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of "feeling" encompasses a range of human emotions and sensations, reflecting the complexity of the human experience as designed by God. Feelings are integral to the biblical narrative, illustrating both the depth of human emotion and the divine response to it.
Emotions in the PsalmsThe Psalms are a rich tapestry of human emotion, expressing feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, and hope. King David, a central figure in the Psalms, often articulates his feelings in prayer and song. For instance, in
Psalm 13:1-2 , David cries out, "How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day?" Here, David's feelings of abandonment and sorrow are laid bare, yet they are directed towards God, demonstrating a relationship where feelings are openly expressed.
Jesus and CompassionThe Gospels frequently highlight Jesus' feelings of compassion towards others. In
Matthew 9:36 , it is written, "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus' feelings of compassion lead to action, as He heals the sick and teaches the people, embodying the divine response to human suffering.
Feelings and SinThe Bible also addresses the potential for feelings to lead to sin. In
Genesis 4:6-7 , God warns Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it." Here, feelings of anger and jealousy are acknowledged, but God advises Cain to master these emotions rather than be led by them into sin.
The Role of the Holy SpiritThe New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding believers' feelings and emotions. In
Galatians 5:22-23 , the Apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, and peace—emotions that reflect a life led by the Spirit. These feelings are contrasted with the works of the flesh, which include enmity, strife, and jealousy.
Feelings in the Christian LifeFeelings are an essential part of the Christian life, but they are not the sole guide for faith and practice. The Bible encourages believers to align their feelings with God's truth. In
Philippians 4:6-7 , Paul writes, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Here, feelings of anxiety are addressed through prayer and trust in God, leading to divine peace.
ConclusionWhile feelings are a natural part of the human experience, the Bible provides guidance on how to navigate them in a way that honors God. Through prayer, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the teachings of Scripture, believers are encouraged to express their feelings honestly while seeking to align them with God's will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs.
2. (v. t.) To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out.
3. (v. t.) To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be affected by; to be sensible of, or sensitive to; as, to feel pleasure; to feel pain.
4. (v. t.) To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an inward persuasion of.
5. (v. t.) To perceive; to observe.
6. (v. i.) To have perception by the touch, or by contact of anything with the nerves of sensation, especially those upon the surface of the body.
7. (v. i.) To have the sensibilities moved or affected.
8. (v. i.) To be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, persuasion, physical condition, etc.; to perceive one's self to be; -- followed by an adjective describing the state, etc.; as, to feel assured, grieved, persuaded.
9. (v. i.) To know with feeling; to be conscious; hence, to know certainly or without misgiving.
10. (v. i.) To appear to the touch; to give a perception; to produce an impression by the nerves of sensation; -- followed by an adjective describing the kind of sensation.
11. (n.) Feeling; perception.
12. (n.) A sensation communicated by touching; impression made upon one who touches or handles; as, this leather has a greasy feel.
Greek
5584. pselaphao -- tofeel or grope about... to
feel or grope about. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pselaphao Phonetic
Spelling: (psay-laf-ah'-o) Short Definition: I
feel, touch, handle, grope for
...4697. splagchnizomai -- to be moved in the inward parts, ie to...
... to be moved in the inward parts, ie tofeel compassion. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: splagchnizomai Phonetic Spelling: (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) Short...
524. apalgeo -- to cease tofeel pain for
... to cease tofeel pain for. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apalgeo Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-alg-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am past feeling, cease to care...
3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on
... 3958 (a primitive verb) -- properly, tofeel , especially ; , experiencing feeling
(literally "" = "" the feeling of the mind, emotion, passion" (J. Thayer...
2691. katastreniao -- to become wanton against
... Word Origin from kata and streniao Definition to become wanton against NASB Word
Usagefeel sensual desires (1),feel sensual desires in disregard of (1)....
4909. suneudokeo -- to join in approving
... From sun and eudokeo; to think well of in common, ie Assent to,feel gratified
with -- allow, assent, be pleased, have pleasure. see GREEK sun....
3356. metriopatheo -- to hold one's emotions in restraint
... controlled "). 3356 ("feel with divinely-measured intensity") expresses
(empathy) which is not too severe or too tolerant. 3356...
3338. metamelomai -- to regret, repent
... Word Origin from meta and melo Definition to regret, repent NASB Word Usage change
his mind (1),feel remorse (1), felt remorse (1), regret (2), regretted (1)....
2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... constrict (compress), ie together; (figuratively) afflict (distress), ie like when
circumstances "rub us the wrong way" that make usfeel confined (hemmed in...
2872. kopiao -- to grow weary, toil
... labor, toil, be wearied. From a derivative of kopos; tofeel fatigue; by implication,
to work hard -- (bestow) labour, toil, be wearied. see GREEK kopos....
Strong's Hebrew
4184. mush -- tofeel... mush. 4185 . to
feel. Transliteration: mush Phonetic Spelling: (moosh) Short
Definition:
feel.
... root Definition to
feel NASB Word Usage
feel (3).
feel, handle.
...4959. mashash -- tofeel, grope
... mashash. 4960 . tofeel, grope. Transliteration: mashash Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-shash') Short Definition: grope. Word Origin a prim....feel, grope, search....
1659. gashash -- tofeel with the hand,feel, stroke
... gashash. 1660 . tofeel with the hand,feel, stroke. Transliteration: gashash
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-shash') Short Definition: grope. Word Origin a prim....
3237. yamash --feel
... 3236, 3237. yamash. 3238 .feel. Transliteration: yamash Phonetic Spelling:
(yaw-mash') Short Definition:feel....feel A primitive root; to touch --feel....
6973. quts -- tofeel a loathing, abhorrence, or sickening dread
... quts. 6974 . tofeel a loathing, abhorrence, or sickening dread. Transliteration:
quts Phonetic Spelling: (koots) Short Definition: dread. Word Origin a prim....
6962a. qut -- tofeel a loathing
... qut. 6962b . tofeel a loathing. Transliteration: qut Short Definition: loathe....
root Definition tofeel a loathing NASB Word Usage loathe (6), loathed (1)....
2363b. chush -- tofeel, enjoy
... chush. 2364 . tofeel, enjoy. Transliteration: chush Short Definition: enjoyment....
root Definition tofeel, enjoy NASB Word Usage have enjoyment (1)....
973a. bachel -- tofeel a loathing
... bachel. 973b . tofeel a loathing. Transliteration: bachel Short Definition: weary....
root Definition tofeel a loathing NASB Word Usage weary (1). 973, 973a....
973. bachal -- tofeel a loathing
... 972, 973. bachal. 973a . tofeel a loathing. Transliteration: bachal Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-khal') Short Definition: abhor. abhor,...
6962. quwt -- tofeel a loathing
... 6961b, 6962. quwt. 6962a . tofeel a loathing. Transliteration: quwt Phonetic
Spelling: (koot) Short Definition: grieved. be grieved, loathe self...
Library
Lord, Let usFeel that Thou Art Near,
... STILLING THE TEMPEST I Lord, let usfeel that Thou art near,. 8,8,8,4. Lord, let
usfeel that Thou art near,. And while we pray, in mercy hear;...
IFeel Myself Growing Dizzy with all This,
... From the Fifth Book. 4. Ifeel myself growing dizzy with all this,. Ifeel
myself growing dizzy with all this, and wonder whether...
The Fifteenth Chapter: How one ShouldFeel and Speak on Every...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Fifteenth Chapter: How One ShouldFeel
and Speak on Every Desirable Thing. The Voice of Christ...
You MayFeel in Yourself How Conducive this is to Your Highest...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 47 You mayfeel in yourself how conducive this is to your
highest happiness. You mayfeel in yourself how conducive...
"I Can'tFeel. "
... "I Can'tFeel.". "I can'tfeel," says one. That is the very last excuse. When...
feeling. With some people it isfeel,feel,feel all the time....
The Right toFeel Superior
... CHAPTER 10 The Right toFeel Superior.... How can a person be conscious of how much
more he knows than someone else, and still notfeel superior?...
That Some May not Come toFeel the Perfection of this Work but in...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE ONE AND SEVENTIETH CHAPTER That some may not come tofeel the
perfection of this work but in time of ravishing, and some may have it when...
How those who are on the Way to Perfection are Truly Humble, and...
... Chapter X. How those who are on the way to perfection are truly humble,
andfeel that they always stand in need of God's grace....
Another Rule of Prayer Is, that in Asking we must Always Truly...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 6 Another rule of prayer is, that in asking
we must always trulyfeel our wants? Another rule of...
That Holy Complacency Gives Our Heart to God, and Makes usFeel a...
... BENEVOLENCE. CHAPTER III. THAT HOLY COMPLACENCY GIVES OUR HEART TO GOD,
AND MAKES USFEEL A PERPETUAL DESIRE IN FRUITION. The love...
Thesaurus
Feel (58 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as,
feel this piece
of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out.
...Smart (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) Tofeel a lively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as
the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart....
Repent (74 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) Tofeel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to
do.... 6. (vt) Tofeel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow....
Rests (25 Occurrences)
... Zion a stone for people to stumble at, and a rock for them to trip over, and yet
he whose faith rests upon it shall never have reason tofeel ashamed." (WEY)....
Feeling (59 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofFeel. 2. (a.) Possessing great
sensibility; easily affected or moved; as, a feeling heart....
Ashamed (131 Occurrences)
... Hebrew bosh, "tofeel shame" (Latin, pudere), with derivatives occurs 80 times;
kalam, "to shame," including the thought of "disgrace," "reproach"; chapher...
Loathe (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Tofeel extreme disgust at, or aversion for; to
hate.... 3. (vi) Tofeel disgust or nausea. Multi-Version Concordance...
Glow (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) Tofeel hot; to have a burning sensation, as of the skin, from friction,
exercise, etc.; to burn. 4. (vi) Tofeel the heat...
Grope (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) Tofeel with or use the hands; to handle.
2. (vi) To search or attempt to find something in the...
Fear (970 Occurrences)
... dreadfulness. 6. (n.) Tofeel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of;
to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude. 7...
Resources
What can I do when I don't feel any love for God? | GotQuestions.orgIs a believer supposed to be able to feel the Holy Spirit? | GotQuestions.orgIf I feel no guilt for my sin, am I truly saved? | GotQuestions.orgFeel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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