Compassion means letting the suffering of others affect you deeply. The Gospels repeatedly tell us that Jesus “was moved with compassion” when he saw people—and that he then acted. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about compassion and sympathy.
Jesus had compassion
How the Gospels describe Jesus’ compassion.
-
And when he saw the people, he was moved with compassion, for they were hungry and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36Good Shepherd
-
And Jesus went out and saw the large crowd, and he was moved with compassion, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14
-
And Jesus called his disciples to him and said: I am moved with compassion for the people, for they have been with me for about three days now and have nothing to eat; and I will not let them leave me hungry, so that they do not faint on the way.
Matthew 15:32
-
And Jesus was moved with compassion, and he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said: I will do it; be cleansed!
Mark 1:41
-
And when the LORD saw her, he was moved with compassion, and he said to her: Do not weep!
Luke 7:13
-
And Jesus’ eyes filled with tears.
John 11:35
-
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, yet without sin.
-
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Psalm 103:13MercyGod as Father
-
He who terrified them also terrified him, and the angel of his presence helped them. He redeemed them because he loved them and had compassion on them. He took them up and carried them from their youth.
Isaiah 63:9Suffering
Living with compassion
How people can support one another.
-
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15LonelinessCommunity
-
Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2Love of neighborCommunity
-
For when one member suffers, all suffer together; and when one member is honored, all rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26Body
-
So now put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.
-
Finally, be united in mind, compassionate, brotherly, merciful, and kind.
-
Remember those who are bound as if you were bound yourselves, those who are in prison as if you were in prison too, for you also live in the body.
Hebrews 13:3Persecution
-
Praise be to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all kinds of troubles with the comfort we have received from God.
-
And they sat with him on earth for seven days and seven nights and spoke nothing to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Job 2:13Hearing
-
Open your mouth and judge right, and defend the fatherless and the needy.
Proverbs 31:9
-
But a Samaritan traveler came by and saw him, and he was moved with compassion.
Luke 10:33Mercy
-
I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related Topics
This Might Be for You
Sometimes you cannot be there in person. A card that sends a hug can be a way to share your compassion. Learn how to write such cards in the post Write Encouragement Cards.
Feel Hugged - PostcardA postcard that sends a hug when you cannot be there in person.€2
Mercy - Oversized HoodieAn oversized hoodie celebrating God’s mercy, which is new every morning.€49
Love Like Jesus - Rib TopA rib top with a reminder to love like Jesus.€28
Heaven (Sympathy Card) - Folded CardA sympathy card with a heavenly design—space for a comforting verse.€2
“He Was Moved with Compassion”
When Luther translated Jesus as being “moved with compassion” for people, the Greek word was splanchnizomai. It comes from the word for entrails—the suffering of others literally goes through and through Jesus. And it never stops at a feeling: He heals the sick, feeds the hungry, touches a leper, and returns a widow’s son to her. At the tomb of his friend Lazarus, he weeps (John 11:35), even though he knows he is about to raise him from the dead. For Jesus, compassion is not a means to an end, but an expression of his love.
Compassion Often Needs Few Words
Job’s friends do everything right at first: They sit silently with him for seven days and seven nights, “for they saw that his pain was very great” (Job 2:13). It only becomes difficult when they begin to offer explanations. Paul sums up compassion in one sentence: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). If you want to support someone in grief, you will find verses in Bible Verses for Grief and Funerals and Bible Verses for Comfort, and for the sick in Bible Verses for Sickness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does the Bible Say About Compassion?
The Bible shows Jesus as someone moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36) and calls us to weep with others and rejoice with them (Romans 12:15) and to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
What Does “Weep with Those Who Weep” Mean?
The verse from Romans 12:15 invites us to stay with someone and share their suffering, rather than downplaying it or trying to explain it away.
