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Sorrow

/SOR-oh/

Summary

Mental pain or grief arising from loss of good, which Scripture distinguishes as either godly sorrow leading to repentance or worldly sorrow leading to death.

☩Nature of Sorrow

Sorrow is mental pain arising from the privation of some good we actually possessed, the opposite of joy. This passion contracts the heart, sinks the spirit, and can injure health. Scripture cautions against excessive sorrow while acknowledging its necessity for spiritual development: 'Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.'

Key verses:Ecclesiastes 7:3Proverbs 25:20

☩Godly vs. Worldly Sorrow

Paul distinguishes two kinds of sorrow: 'Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.' Godly sorrow over sin leads to genuine change and restoration; worldly sorrow—mere regret over consequences—produces only despair. Jesus upbraided the counterfeit sorrow of Pharisees who affected mourning to gain men's approval.

Key verses:2 Corinthians 7:10-11Matthew 6:16

☩Christ as Man of Sorrows

Isaiah's prophecy of the Suffering Servant describes one 'acquainted with grief.' Christ's sorrows were not primarily physical but spiritual—arising from His contact with sin and His unique awareness of humanity's tragic rejection of salvation. He wept at death's presence, sighed at human suffering, and was grieved at hardness of heart. His sorrow in Gethsemane was 'unto death' as He faced the Cross.

Key verses:Isaiah 53:3Matthew 26:37-38John 11:33-35

☩The End of Sorrow

Scripture promises ultimate deliverance from sorrow: 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes... neither shall there be any more pain.' Christians learn to be 'sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,' experiencing present sorrow transformed by hope. 'Sorrow and sighing shall flee away' when redemption is complete.

Key verses:Revelation 21:42 Corinthians 6:10Isaiah 35:10

Related Verses109 mentions

Isaiah· 12 verses

5:3013:814:317:1129:2

Psalms· 12 verses

13:216:418:418:532:10

Jeremiah· 10 verses

8:1813:2120:1830:1531:12

Genesis· 9 verses

3:163:1721:1737:3437:35

See Also

French: Jérémie pleurant la destruction de Jérusalem Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalemtitle QS:P1476,fr:"Jérémie pleurant la destruction de Jérusalem "
Despondency
Grief
Grief
Repentance
Repentance
Suffering
Suffering

References

  1. 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sorrow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  2. 2.James Orr (ed.), "Sorrow," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  3. 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sorrow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  4. 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sorrow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  5. 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Sorrow, Man of Sorrows," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  6. 6.James Hastings (ed.), "Sorrow, Man of Sorrows," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  7. 7.James Hastings (ed.), "Sorrow, Man of Sorrows," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  8. 8.James Orr (ed.), "Sorrow," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  9. 9.James Orr (ed.), "Sorrow," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  10. 10.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sorrow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).