Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5831 depression

A deep sense of despondency, discouragement and sadness, often linked with a sense of personal powerlessness and a loss of meaning in and enthusiasm for life. Many biblical characters show evidence of such behaviour which originates in a number of different ways.

Some causes of depression

External circumstances

2 Corinthians 1:8 See also 1 Kings 19:3-4; Job 9:23; Psalm 42:1-11; Psalm 88:1-18; Joel 1:11

Physical illness or exhaustion

1 Kings 19:5-8 See also Genesis 21:15-16; Psalm 6:1-7; Psalm 22:14-17; Psalm 31:9-12; Isaiah 38:1-2; Jonah 1:5

Fear of others

1 Kings 19:1-3

Fear of failure

1 Kings 19:4 See also Exodus 4:1; Numbers 11:11-15

Serious sin

Matthew 27:3-4 See also Psalm 25:16-18; Jeremiah 14:2-3,7; Jeremiah 16:9-10; Ezekiel 4:16-17; Ezekiel 7:26-27; Ezekiel 12:19; Revelation 16:10-11

A sense of the futility of life

Ecclesiastes 2:17-20

Loss of sense of God's presence

Psalm 22:1-2 See also Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34

Symptoms of depression

A loathing of life and a desire to end it

Numbers 11:15 See also 1 Kings 19:4; Job 10:1; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Jeremiah 20:15-18; Jonah 4:8

Deep sorrow

Genesis 21:16 See also Judges 21:2; 1 Samuel 1:10,16; Psalm 42:3; Nehemiah 1:4; Nehemiah 2:2; Esther 4:1-3; Job 16:16; Lamentations 2:11

Loneliness

1 Kings 19:10 See also Numbers 11:14; 1 Kings 19:14

Perplexity

Psalm 42:5 See also Habakkuk 1:2; Luke 24:17; John 16:6

Despair

Job 17:1 See also Psalm 88:3-9; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

Escapism

Psalm 55:6-8 See also 1 Kings 19:1-3; Jeremiah 8:22

Feeling forsaken by God

Psalm 22:1 See also Psalm 27:9; Psalm 38:21; Isaiah 49:14; Jeremiah 15:18; Lamentations 3:1-20

Examples of spiritual depression

Judges 6:13; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 22:1-2,6-8; Psalm 42:1-7,9-11; Psalm 43:1-5

Remedies for depression

Renewed vision of God and being centred upon him

1 Kings 19:11; Isaiah 26:3 See also Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 8:6

Hope and trust in God

Psalm 42:11 See also Psalm 22:9-11,22-31; Habakkuk 3:16-18

Praise

Psalm 30:1 See also Psalm 42:5; Psalm 107:1-43; Isaiah 61:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

Reviewing what God has done

Psalm 77:11-12 See also Psalm 42:6; Psalm 143:5; Lamentations 3:19-26; 2 Corinthians 7:6

Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7 See also Psalm 139:23

See also

5560  suffering
5770  abandonment
5799  bitterness
5901  loneliness
5952  sorrow
5970  unhappiness
8104  assurance
8283  joy
8713  discouragement
8741  failure
8754  fear
9614  hope, results of absence