Topical Encyclopedia
The term "sorrowful" in the Bible is often associated with deep emotional pain, grief, or distress. It is a state of heart that reflects the human experience of loss, suffering, or repentance. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings related to sorrow, offering both a realistic portrayal of human emotions and a pathway to divine comfort.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, sorrow is frequently depicted in the context of mourning and lamentation. The Hebrew word often translated as "sorrow" is "yagon," which conveys a sense of anguish or grief. For instance, in
Genesis 42:38, Jacob expresses his sorrow over the potential loss of his son Benjamin, saying, "If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow."
The Psalms are rich with expressions of sorrow, often intertwined with pleas for God's intervention.
Psalm 31:9-10 states, "Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away." Here, the psalmist acknowledges personal sin as a source of sorrow, seeking God's mercy and deliverance.
Prophetic LiteratureThe prophets also address sorrow, particularly in relation to the consequences of sin and the impending judgment of God. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," often laments the spiritual state of Israel. In
Jeremiah 8:18 , he declares, "My sorrow is beyond healing; my heart is faint within me." This sorrow is not only personal but also communal, reflecting the collective grief of a nation estranged from God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "lupe" is commonly used to describe sorrow. Jesus Himself experienced sorrow, most notably in the Garden of Gethsemane. In
Matthew 26:37-38 , it is recorded, "And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.'" This moment underscores the depth of Christ's human experience and His identification with human suffering.
The Apostle Paul also addresses sorrow in his epistles, often in the context of repentance and godly grief. In
2 Corinthians 7:10 , he writes, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." Here, Paul distinguishes between a sorrow that leads to spiritual renewal and one that results in despair.
Comfort in SorrowThe Bible consistently points to God as the ultimate source of comfort in times of sorrow. In
Isaiah 53:3-4 , the Suffering Servant is described as "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief," who bears the sorrows of humanity. This prophetic passage is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who offers solace and redemption to those who mourn.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who are sorrowful: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (
Matthew 5:4). This promise of comfort is echoed throughout Scripture, assuring believers that their sorrow is not in vain and that God is near to the brokenhearted (
Psalm 34:18).
Eschatological HopeThe Bible also offers an eschatological hope that sorrow will ultimately be eradicated.
Revelation 21:4 provides a vision of the new heaven and new earth, where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This future promise encourages believers to endure present sorrows with the assurance of eternal joy and peace in God's presence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed.
2. (a.) Producing sorrow; exciting grief; mournful; lamentable; grievous; as, a sorrowful accident.
Greek
4036. perilupos -- very sad... very sad. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: perilupos Phonetic Spelling:
(per-il'-oo-pos) Short Definition: very
sorrowful Definition: very
sorrowful...253. alupoteros -- having less grief
... lesssorrowful. Comparative of a compound of a (as a negative particle) and lupe;
more without grief -- lesssorrowful. see GREEK a. see GREEK lupe....
3076. lupeo -- to distress, to grieve
... Usage cause...sorrow (1), caused...sorrow (2), caused sorrow (2), distressed (1),
grieve (3), grieved (7), grieving (2), hurt (1), madesorrowful (5), sorrow (1...
3077. lupe -- pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow
... word Definition pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow NASB Word Usage grief (2),
grudgingly* (1), pain (1), sorrow (10),sorrowful (1), sorrows (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
3013. yagah -- to suffer... afflict, cause grief, grieve,
sorrowful, vex. A primitive root; to grieve -- afflict,
cause grief, grieve,
sorrowful, vex. 3012, 3013. yagah. 3014 .
...1741. devay -- illness
... languishing,sorrowful. From daveh; sickness; figuratively, loathing -- languishing,
sorrowful. see HEBREW daveh. 1740, 1741. devay. 1742 . Strong's Numbers
3510. kaab -- to be in pain
... grieving, mar, have pain, make sad sore, besorrowful. A primitive root; properly,
to feel pain; by implication, to grieve; figuratively...
3258. Yabets -- a descendant of Judah, also a place in Judah
... From an unused root probably meaning to grieve;sorrowful; Jabets, the name of an
Israelite, and also of a place in Palestine: 3257, 3258. Yabets. 3259 ....
7186. qasheh -- hard, severe
... various applications) -- churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, +
impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore,sorrowful, stiff((necked...
3515. kabed -- heavy
... grievous (1), heavier (1), heavy (11), huge (1), large (4), large number (1), much
(1), numerous (1), rich (1), severe (7), slow (2),sorrowful (1), stubborn (1...
1669. daeb -- to become faint, languish
... wasted away (1). mourn,sorrowful. A primitive root; to pine -- mourn,
sorrow(-ful). 1668, 1669. daeb. 1670 . Strong's Numbers.
6001. amel -- a laborer, sufferer
... From amal; toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively,sorrowful -- that laboureth,
that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman. see HEBREW amal....
Library
Sorrowful yet Always Rejoicing.
...SORROWFUL YET ALWAYS REJOICING. This world is sometimes called "the vale of
tears." Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation...
A Friend for theSorrowful
... CHAPTER VII A FRIEND FOR THESORROWFUL. One day Jesus went to a town called
Nain (or Beautiful), about twenty-five miles from Capernaum....
Sorrowful, yet Always Rejoicing
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETERSORROWFUL, YET ALWAYS REJOICING. 'Wherein ye
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye...
Why Art ThouSorrowful?
... No. 144 Why art thousorrowful? GENERAL Why art thousorrowful? The
Remembrance of Mercy Father Faber SM Yenn. Moderato. 1...
June the Ninth the Story of aSorrowful Soul
... JUNE The Ninth THE STORY OF ASORROWFUL SOUL. PSALM iii. This tearful little psalm
tells me where asorrowful soul found a place of help and consolation....
A Woman of aSorrowful Spirit.
... Homily XII. Chapter XIII."A Woman of aSorrowful Spirit. But Peter alone
did not think it worth while to look at the sights that...
Questions and Answers--Sorrowful Cases--Testimonies from those who...
... CHAPTER IX. Questions and Answers"Sorrowful Cases"Testimonies from those
who have visited Canada"Stewardship. Questions and...
TheSorrowful Way.
... FRIDAY"THE DAY OF SUFFERING THESORROWFUL WAY. They took Jesus therefore:
and he went out, bearing the cross for himself. And...
TheSorrowful Man's Question
... TheSorrowful Man's Question.... But now, in the last place, speaking to thesorrowful
person, I want to mention SOME ANSWERS WHICH MAY BE GIVEN TO HIS QUESTION....
The Last Incidents in Per??a - the Young Ruler who Went Away...
... THE LAST INCIDENTS IN PER??A - THE YOUNG RULER WHO WENT AWAYSORROWFUL - TO LEAVE
ALL FOR CHRIST - PROPHECY OF HIS PASSION - THE REQUEST OF SALOME, AND OF...
Thesaurus
Sorrowful (29 Occurrences)... 2. (a.) Producing sorrow; exciting grief; mournful; lamentable; grievous; as, a
sorrowful accident. Multi-Version Concordance
Sorrowful (29 Occurrences).
...Deeply (43 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Matthew 26:22 They were exceedinglysorrowful, and each began
to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?" (See NAS). Matthew...
Exceeding (101 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Matthew 26:22 They were exceedinglysorrowful, and each began to ask him,
"It isn't me, is it, Lord?" (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)....
Exceedingly (167 Occurrences)
... YLT). Matthew 26:22 They were exceedinglysorrowful, and each began to ask
him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?" (WEB DBY YLT). Matthew...
Grieved (87 Occurrences)
... NAS). Matthew 26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and began to besorrowful and severely troubled. (See NAS)....
Heaviness (14 Occurrences)
... and American) "bands of the yoke"); qasheh, "sharp," "hard" (1 Kings 14:6, "heavy
tidings"); barus, "heavy" (Matthew 23:4); (2) for sad,sorrowful (weighed down...
Sorrow (277 Occurrences)
... The "Servant of Yahweh" was "a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3). Christians learn how
to be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 7...
Heavy (110 Occurrences)
... and American) "bands of the yoke"); qasheh, "sharp," "hard" (1 Kings 14:6, "heavy
tidings"); barus, "heavy" (Matthew 23:4); (2) for sad,sorrowful (weighed down...
Overwhelmed (33 Occurrences)
... Overwhelmed (33 Occurrences). Matthew 26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is
exceedinglysorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me." (See NIV)....
Lamentable (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Mourning;sorrowful; expressing grief;
as, a lamentable countenance. 2. (a.) Fitted to awaken...
Resources
What is the Via Dolorosa? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened during Jesus' last hours before His death? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about coping/dealing with a terminal illness? | GotQuestions.orgSorrowful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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