Pity
Summary
Pity is the tender feeling of uneasiness at the unhappiness of others that prompts compassion and a desire for their relief, attributed both to God and required of His people.
☩Divine Pity
Scripture declares that God pities those who fear Him 'as a father pities his children.' This divine compassion is not mere sentiment but moves toward action and relief. The Lord's pity for Israel in their afflictions and His tender mercies are celebrated throughout the Psalms and prophets. James affirms that 'the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy,' pointing to His dealings with Job as an example.
☩Human Pity
Pity is a Christian grace to which believers are called: 'Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.' Various Hebrew words express different aspects of pity: 'chamal' conveys sparing and tenderness; 'chanan' suggests gracious inclination toward another; 'racham' denotes warm, loving compassion. The requirement to show pity reflects God's own character and is essential to the life of faith.
☩Pity and Compassion in the Gospels
Jesus was repeatedly 'moved with compassion' at human suffering—a strong inward movement of sympathetic feeling. The Greek word 'splagchnizomai' denotes visceral emotion arising from the sight of misery. Christ's compassion was directed not merely toward physical distress but also spiritual need, as when He saw the crowds 'as sheep without a shepherd.' His teaching elevated pity beyond mere sentiment to active mercy: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.'
Related Verses32 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Pity," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Pity," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Pity Compassion," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).