Topical Encyclopedia
Sympathy, in the biblical context, refers to the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others, particularly in their suffering or distress. It is a virtue that is deeply rooted in the character of God and is exemplified in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Sympathy is closely related to compassion, mercy, and love, and it is an essential aspect of Christian conduct and community life.
Old Testament FoundationsThe Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding sympathy through the character of God and His dealings with humanity. God is depicted as compassionate and merciful, showing concern for the suffering of His people. In
Exodus 34:6, God describes Himself to Moses as "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth." This divine compassion is a model for human sympathy.
The book of Job provides a narrative exploration of sympathy, as Job's friends initially come to comfort him in his suffering. However, their failure to truly sympathize with Job's plight highlights the importance of genuine empathy and understanding (
Job 2:11-13).
Sympathy in the Life of JesusThe New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of sympathy. His ministry was marked by deep compassion for those in need. In
Matthew 9:36, it is recorded, "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus' sympathy was not merely emotional but was often accompanied by action, as seen in His healing of the sick and feeding of the hungry.
The author of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus' ability to sympathize with human weakness: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" (
Hebrews 4:15). This passage underscores the depth of Christ's empathy, having experienced human life fully.
Apostolic Teachings on SympathyThe apostles continued to teach the importance of sympathy within the Christian community. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, exhorts believers to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep" (
Romans 12:15). This call to share in the emotional experiences of others is a practical expression of love and unity within the body of Christ.
Peter also encourages believers to cultivate sympathy as part of their Christian character: "Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble" (
1 Peter 3:8). Sympathy is presented as a vital component of harmonious relationships and mutual support among Christians.
Practical Expressions of SympathySympathy in the Christian life is not limited to feelings but is expressed through actions. The parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:25-37) illustrates the active nature of true sympathy, as the Samaritan not only feels compassion for the injured man but also takes concrete steps to care for him.
The early church demonstrated sympathy through acts of charity and support for those in need. In
Acts 2:44-45, the believers are described as having "all things in common" and selling their possessions to provide for anyone who had need. This communal sharing was a tangible expression of their sympathy and love for one another.
ConclusionSympathy, as taught in the Bible, is a profound expression of God's love and compassion, mirrored in the life of Jesus and the teachings of the apostles. It calls believers to enter into the joys and sorrows of others, offering understanding, comfort, and practical help. Through sympathy, Christians reflect the heart of God and build up the body of Christ in love and unity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Feeling corresponding to that which another feels; the quality of being affected by the affection of another, with feelings correspondent in kind, if not in degree; fellow-feeling.
2. (n.) An agreement of affections or inclinations, or a conformity of natural temperament, which causes persons to be pleased, or in accord, with one another; as, there is perfect sympathy between them.
3. (n.) Kindness of feeling toward one who suffers; pity; commiseration; compassion.
4. (n.) The reciprocal influence exercised by the various organs or parts of the body on one another, as manifested in the transmission of a disease by unknown means from one organ to another quite remote, or in the influence exerted by a diseased condition of one part on another part or organ, as in the vomiting produced by a tumor of the brain.
5. (n.) That relation which exists between different persons by which one of them produces in the others a state or condition like that of himself. This is shown in the tendency to yawn which a person often feels on seeing another yawn, or the strong inclination to become hysteric experienced by many women on seeing another person suffering with hysteria.
6. (n.) A tendency of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each other; as, the sympathy between the loadstone and iron.
7. (n.) Similarity of function, use office, or the like.
Greek
4698. splagchnon -- the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.)...... 4698 -- properly, the internal organs ("viscera"); (figuratively) "" ( feelings);
the capacity to feel deep emotions (
sympathy, empathy, etc.).
...4834. sumpatheo -- to have a fellow feeling with, ie sympathize...
... Word Origin from sumpathes Definition to have a fellow feeling with, ie sympathize
with NASB Word Usage showedsympathy (1), sympathize (1)....
4697. splagchnizomai -- to be moved in the inward parts, ie to...
... have compassion. Middle voice from splagchnon; to have the bowels yearn, ie
(figuratively) feelsympathy, to pity -- have (be moved with) compassion....
3627. oiktiro -- to pity, to have compassion on
... Cognate: 3627 properly, to respond with deep sensitivity (compassion,sympathy).
This term is only used of the Lord in the NT (both time in Ro 9:15)....
3888. paramutheomai -- to encourge, comfort
... 3888 (derived from 3844 , "from close-beside" and , " speaking") -- properly, that
showssympathy (encouragement), cheering someone up by speech with a " touch...
4818. sullupeo -- to be moved to grief with (pass.)
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sullupeo Phonetic Spelling: (sool-loop-eh'-
o) Short Definition: I am grieved Definition: I am moved to grief bysympathy....
5424. phren -- midriff, heart, mind, thought
... obsolete phrao (to rein in or curb; compare phrasso); the midrif (as a partition
of the body), ie (figuratively and by implication, ofsympathy) the feelings...
2155. eusplagchnos -- tenderhearted, compassionate
... derived from 2095 , "good" and 4698, "the visceral organs") -- properly, the visceral
organs ("") as they exercise positivesympathy (empathy, compassion...
Strong's Hebrew
5110. nud -- to move to and fro, wander, flutter, show grief... 1), consoled (1), drive away (1), flee (2), flitting (1), grieve (1), grieving
(1), mourn (4), shake (2), shaken (1), sympathize (1),
sympathy (1), totters (1
...4578. meeh -- internal organs, inward parts, belly
... From an unused root probably meaning to be soft; used only in plural the intestines,
or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively,sympathy; by implication, a...
4263. machmal -- a thing pitied, an object of compassion
... pitieth From chamal; properly,sympathy; (by paronomasia with machmad) delight --
pitieth. see HEBREW chamal. see HEBREW machmad. 4262, 4263. machmal. 4263a...
Library
TheSympathy of God
... THESYMPATHY OF GOD. 'In all their... the former. And what a deep and wonderful
thought that is, of divinesympathy with human sorrow! We...
Home-Sympathy.
... CHAPTER XIV. HOME-SYMPATHY.... Where shall we find a more exquisite picture of
home-sympathy than this, from the pen of that truly pious woman, Hannah More!...
Eleventh Day.Sympathy.
... Eleventh Day.SYMPATHY. "Jesus wept.""John, xi.35. It is an affecting thing to see
a Great man in tears!... Ah, was there eversympathy like this! Son! Brother!...
TheSympathy of the Two Worlds
... TheSympathy of the Two Worlds. A Sermon (No.203). Delivered... I. In the first place,
our text teaches us THESYMPATHY OF THE TWO WORLDS. Imagine...
Sympathy of the Dead. November 1.
...Sympathy of the Dead. November 1. Believe that those who are gone are nearer
us than ever; and that if (as I surely believe) they...
Want ofSympathy. May 5.
... Want ofSympathy. May 5. If we do not understand our fellow-creatures
we shall never love them. And it is equally true, that if...
Elizabethtown. CM TheSympathy of Jesus.
... 155 Elizabethtown. CM TheSympathy of Jesus. TheSympathy of Jesus. (338)
Come, let us join in songs of praise To our ascended Priest...
ChristianSympathy
... ChristianSympathy.... Practicalsympathy is my aim; I trust your liberality, at the
end of the sermon, will prove that I have hit the center of my target....
Whether Pain or Sorrow are Assuaged by theSympathy of Friends?
... OF THE REMEDIES OF SORROW OR PAIN (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether pain or sorrow
are assuaged by thesympathy of friends? Objection 1: It...
Conflict and Comfort.
... blessings begin to abound. "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth.".
Prayer also impliessympathy. The Apostle was praying...
Thesaurus
Sympathy (15 Occurrences)... or a conformity of natural temperament, which causes persons to be pleased, or in
accord, with one another; as, there is perfect
sympathy between them.
...Communicate (7 Occurrences)
... to. 5. (vi) To share or participate; to possess or enjoy in common; to have
sympathy. 6. (vi) To give alms,sympathy, or aid. 7. (vi...
Consent (34 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.)Sympathy. SeeSympathy, 4. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CONSENT.
kon-sent': The verb implies compliance with the guidance...
Sympathetic (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Produced by, or expressive of,sympathy. 3. (a.) Produced bysympathy; --
applied particularly to symptoms or affections. SeeSympathy....
Nahash (9 Occurrences)
... of the same name is mentioned, who showed kindness to David during his wanderings
(2 Samuel 10:2). On his death David sent an embassy ofsympathy to Hanun, his...
Pity (165 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others;sympathy
with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration...
Commune (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To converse together withsympathy and confidence;
to interchange sentiments or feelings; to take counsel....
Sadducees (14 Occurrences)
... When the chacidhim, having lostsympathy with the Maccabeans, sought to reconcile
themselves to the priestly party, Alcimus, the legitimate high priest, by his...
Obedience (61 Occurrences)
... Without this testing of His obedience He could have had thesympathy of clear and
accurate knowledge, for He "knew what was in man," but He would have lacked...
Sodomite (1 Occurrence)
... the divine love and providence for believers are exercised, neither automatically
or impersonally, but in virtue of a constant personalsympathy for varying...
Resources
What does the Bible say about empathy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat should we learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about compassion? | GotQuestions.orgSympathy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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