Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5970 unhappiness

A sense of despondency or sadness, often linked with disappointment or loss. Scripture documents human unhappiness in response to a number of situations, while recalling God's unhappiness over the folly and rebelliousness of sinful humanity.

Unhappiness as the result of adverse circumstances

Psalm 90:10; Matthew 26:21-22 pp Mark 14:19 See also Genesis 26:34-35; Genesis 40:6-7; Genesis 42:24; 1 Samuel 1:8,15; Nehemiah 1:4; Nehemiah 2:1-3 Artaxerxes queries Nehemiah's sadness; Job 17:7; Job 30:25; Psalm 10:1; Psalm 13:2; Psalm 31:9; Proverbs 17:21,25; Isaiah 19:8-10; Jeremiah 45:3

Unhappiness caused by loss

2 Samuel 19:1; John 16:5-6 Jesus Christ had just foretold his departure. See also Genesis 38:12; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 48:7; 2 Samuel 1:26; Samuel 14:2; Joel 1:8; Matthew 17:23; Luke 22:45; Luke 24:17; John 20:11 Mary weeps at Jesus Christ's tomb; Acts 20:38; Philippians 2:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Unhappiness over failure and sin

Ezekiel 9:4; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 See also Numbers 14:39; Judges 20:26; Judges 21:6; 1 Samuel 2:33; Nehemiah 8:9-11; Psalm 88:1-9; Psalm 107:39; Lamentations 1:4-5; Ezekiel 21:6-7; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 27:3 Judas seized with remorse at his betrayal of Jesus Christ; Luke 22:62; Romans 9:2; 2 Corinthians 2:2-5; Corinthians 7:8-11

Unhappiness caused by a person's own selfishness

1 Timothy 6:10 See also 1 Kings 21:4; Esther 6:12; Proverbs 23:29-30; Matthew 19:22 pp Mark 10:22 pp Luke 18:23

Jesus Christ knew unhappiness

John 11:35 See also Matthew 26:38 pp Mark 14:34; John 11:33; John 12:27; John 13:21

God also grieves

Genesis 6:6-7 Prior to the flood ; Ephesians 4:30 See also Genesis 18:20; 1 Samuel 15:11,35; 2 Samuel 24:16; Psalm 78:40; Isaiah 63:10; Jeremiah 42:10

God's remedy for unhappiness

Lamentations 3:32-33; 1 Peter 1:6 See also Psalm 6:7-8; Psalm 10:14; Psalm 31:9; Psalm 116:1-6; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 61:1-3; Jeremiah 8:18; Jeremiah 31:12-13; John 16:20-22

See also

5198  weeping
5795  bereavement
5831  depression
5835  disappointment
5839  dissatisfaction
5916  pessimism
5938  sadness
5945  self-pity
5952  sorrow
8713  discouragement
9250  woe
9614  hope, results of absence