Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5963 sympathy
The ability to appreciate another's condition, especially through shared experience of pain or suffering. God sympathises with his people in their sufferings, as does Jesus Christ as the sympathetic high priest.
God sympathises with his people
Psalm 10:14; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 See also Exodus 22:26-27; Deuteronomy 10:18; Judges 2:18; Psalm 9:9; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 66:13; Jeremiah 8:18; 2 Corinthians 7:6
God's apparent lack of sympathy may be evidence of judgment
Jeremiah 16:5-6 See also Isaiah 27:11; Isaiah 63:15
Jesus Christ sympathises with those in distress
John 11:35; Hebrews 4:15 See also Matthew 9:36; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:34; Hebrews 2:14-18
Sympathy as a characteristic of friendship
1 Samuel 20:34; Job 2:11 See also Judges 11:37; 1 Samuel 20:41; 2 Samuel 10:2-3 pp 1 Chronicles 19:2-3; Job 16:4-5; Job 19:21; Job 29:16; Job 30:25; Ecclesiastes 4:10; Daniel 1:9; John 11:18-19
Sympathy expected from God's people
Exodus 23:9; Romans 12:15; 1 Peter 3:8 See also Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19; Isaiah 58:6-7; 2 Corinthians 1:4-7; Corinthians 2:7; Corinthians 11:29; Philippians 1:7; Philippians 2:1; Philippians 4:14; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 13:3
The absence of sympathy
Psalm 69:20 See also Deuteronomy 15:7; Job 6:14-18; Psalm 31:11-12; Psalm 38:11; Psalm 41:9; Jeremiah 20:10; Lamentations 1:16; Ob 12; Matthew 18:33
See also
3130 Holy Spirit, Counsellor 5560 suffering 5691 friends, good 5805 comfort 5806 compassion 5946 sensitivity 5946 sensitivity 5966 tenderness 6686 mercy 8291 kindness 8292 love 8414 encouragement