Topical Encyclopedia
Sadness is a profound emotional experience that is acknowledged and addressed throughout the Bible. It is often depicted as a natural human response to the trials, tribulations, and losses encountered in life. The Scriptures provide numerous examples of individuals who experienced sadness, offering insight into its causes, expressions, and the divine comfort available to those who suffer.
Biblical Instances of Sadness1.
Job's Lament: The Book of Job is a profound exploration of human suffering and sadness. Job, a righteous man, experiences immense loss, including his children, health, and wealth. In his lament, Job expresses deep sorrow: "Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?" (
Job 3:11). His sadness is compounded by the misunderstanding of his friends, yet he remains steadfast in seeking God.
2.
David's Mourning: King David, a man after God's own heart, frequently expressed sadness in the Psalms. In
Psalm 42:3, he writes, "My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'" . David's psalms often transition from expressions of deep sorrow to declarations of trust in God's deliverance.
3.
Jesus' Weeping: The shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" (
John 11:35), reveals the depth of Christ's compassion and empathy. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, sharing in the sorrow of Mary and Martha. This moment underscores the humanity of Jesus and His ability to empathize with human grief.
4.
Jeremiah's Tears: Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah experienced profound sadness over the spiritual state of Israel. In
Lamentations 1:16, he writes, "For these things I weep; my eyes overflow with tears, for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my soul" . Jeremiah's sorrow reflects his deep love for his people and his anguish over their impending judgment.
Causes of SadnessSadness in the Bible often arises from various sources, including:
·
Loss and Grief: The death of loved ones, as seen in the mourning of Jacob for Joseph (
Genesis 37:34-35), is a common cause of sadness.
·
Sin and Separation from God: Spiritual sadness can result from sin and the resulting separation from God. David's penitential psalm reflects this: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit" (
Psalm 51:12).
·
Unfulfilled Desires: Hannah's sadness over her barrenness is a poignant example of unfulfilled desires leading to deep sorrow (
1 Samuel 1:10).
Expressions of SadnessThe Bible portrays various expressions of sadness, including:
·
Weeping and Mourning: Physical expressions of sadness, such as weeping, are common. The Israelites mourned for Moses for thirty days (
Deuteronomy 34:8).
·
Lamentation and Prayer: Many biblical figures turned to God in prayer during times of sadness, seeking His comfort and intervention. The Psalms are replete with such prayers.
Divine Comfort and HopeWhile sadness is a part of the human experience, the Bible consistently points to God's comfort and hope. In
Isaiah 61:3, God promises to provide "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" . The New Testament further assures believers of God's presence in their sorrow, as seen in
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles" .
Ultimately, the Bible offers a vision of a future where sadness will be no more: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (
Revelation 21:4). This promise provides believers with hope and assurance that their sadness is temporary and will be transformed in the presence of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Heaviness; firmness.
2. (n.) Seriousness; gravity; discretion.
3. (n.) Quality of being sad, or unhappy; gloominess; sorrowfulness; dejection.
Greek
3997. penthos -- mourning... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: penthos Phonetic Spelling: (pen'-thos)
Short Definition: mourning, sorrow Definition: mourning, sorrow,
sadness, grief
...2726. katepheia -- dejection
... From a compound of kata and perhaps a derivative of the base of phaino (meaning
downcast in look); demureness, ie (by implication)sadness -- heaviness....
3076. lupeo -- to distress, to grieve
... grieve, vex. Cognate: 3076 (from 3077 , "deep grief") -- to experience deep,
emotional pain (sadness), ie sorrow (grief). 3076 () is...
3077. lupe -- pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow
... grief, pain, sorrow. Apparently a primary word;sadness -- grief, grievous, +
grudgingly, heaviness, sorrow. (lupas) -- 1 Occurrence. (lupe) -- 7 Occurrences....
3449. mochthos -- toil, hardship
... painfulness, travail. From the base of mogis; toil, ie (by implication)sadness --
painfulness, travail. see GREEK mogis. (mochthon) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
7455. roa -- badness, evil... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition badness, evil NASB Word Usage evil
(10), rottenness (4), sad (1),
sadness (1), ugliness (1), wickedness (2).
...Library
WhetherSadness Causes Pleasure?
... OF THE CAUSE OF PLEASURE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whethersadness causes pleasure? Objection
1: It would seem thatsadness does not cause pleasure....
Commandment Fifth. OfSadness of Heart, and of Patience.
... The Pastor: Book Second."Commandments. Commandment Fifth. OfSadness of
Heart, and of Patience. Chap. I. "Be patient," said he...
Sadness of Christ at Sight of Jerusalem. (Luke, xix. , 41-44. )
... CHAPTER I. FROM THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY TO THE LAST SUPPER. Section 244.Sadness
of Christ at Sight of Jerusalem. (Luke, xix., 41-44.)....
ThatSadness is Almost Always Useless, Yea Contrary to the Service...
... PERFECTIONS OF THE SOUL. CHAPTER XXI. THATSADNESS IS ALMOST ALWAYS USELESS,
YEA CONTRARY TO THE SERVICE OF HOLY LOVE. One cannot graft an...
Whether These are the Four Principal Passions: Joy,Sadness, Hope...
... OF THE ORDER OF THE PASSIONS TO ONE ANOTHER (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether these are
the four principal passions: joy,sadness, hope and fear?...
Concerning the Manner in which Joy andSadness May be Brought Back...
... Book X. Chapter XIV."Concerning the Manner in Which Joy andSadness May
Be Brought Back to the Mind and Memory. 21. This same...
Of the Three Perturbations, which the Stoics Admitted in the Soul...
... Chapter 8."Of the Three Perturbations, Which the Stoics Admitted in the Soul of
the Wise Man to the Exclusion of Grief orSadness, Which the Manly Mind Ought...
Whether the Pain of Christ's Passion was Greater than all Other...
... Objection 2: Further, strength of soul mitigates pain, so much so that the Stoics
held there was nosadness in the soul of a wise man; and Aristotle (Ethic....
Whether There is Love in God
... 2. Again, love, anger,sadness, and the like are condivided. [15] Butsadness and
anger are not attributed to God otherwise than metaphorically....
Whether the Irascible Passions Precede the Concupiscible Passions...
... Objection 3: Further, joy andsadness are concupiscible passions. But joy andsadness
succeed to the irascible passions: for the Philosopher says (Ethic....
Thesaurus
Sadness (16 Occurrences)...Sadness (16 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 16:14 And the Spirit of Jehovah turned aside
from Saul, and a spirit of
sadness from Jehovah terrified him; (YLT).
...Heaviness (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The state or quality of being heavy in its various
senses; weight;sadness; sluggishness; oppression; thickness. Int....
Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... and perhaps from other sources (Nehemiah 1:2; 2:3), he heard of the mournful and
desolate condition of the Holy City, and was filled withsadness of heart....
Gladness (83 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 16:23 And it hath come to pass, in the spirit of 'sadness from' God being
on Saul, that David hath taken the harp, and played with his hand, and Saul...
Refreshment (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 16:23 And it hath come to pass, in the spirit of 'sadness from' God being
on Saul, that David hath taken the harp, and played with his hand, and Saul...
Playing (37 Occurrences)
... lord command, we pray thee, thy servants before thee, they seek a skilful man, playing
on a harp, and it hath come to pass, in the spirit ofsadness 'from' God...
Sorrow (277 Occurrences)
... loss of any good, real or supposed, or by disappointment in the expectation of good;
grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness;sadness....
Heavy (110 Occurrences)
... from 'anah, "to groan," "to sigh" (Isaiah 29:2, the Revised Version (British and
American) "mourning and lamentation"); tughah, "sadness," "sorrow" (Psalm 119...
Head (4291 Occurrences)
... earth, dust or ashes upon it (Joshua 7:6 1 Samuel 4:12 2 Samuel 12; 2 Samuel
13:19 Lamentations 2:10; compare Amos 2:7) were expressive ofsadness, grief, deep...
Resources
What does the Bible say about sadness? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong for a Christian to be depressed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is holy laughter? | GotQuestions.orgSadness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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