Suffering

Across the canon

In the King James text (351 verses)

Every verse where Scripture speaks of suffering, gathered by word. Quoted below: a spread across the whole canon, Old Testament and New — never more than two from any one book. The complete list is one click beneath them.

1. Genesis 15:13

   And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

   ›Commentary on Genesis 15:132 voices

   “And they shall afflict them - See Exod. i, 11. Those that are blessed and beloved of God are often afflicted by wicked men. This persecution began with mocking, when Ishmael the son of an Egyptian, persecuted Isaac, chap. xxi, 9, and it came at last to murder, the basest of murders, that of their new born children; so that more or less it continued 400 years.

   Four hundred years - “Which began,” says Mr. Ainsworth, “when Ishmael, son of Hagar, mocked and persecuted Isaac, Gen 21:9; Gal 4:29; which fell out thirty years after the promise, Gen 12:3; which promise was four hundred and thirty years before the law, Gal 3:17; and four hundred and thirty years after that promise came Israel out of Egypt, Exo 12:41.”

   Everything gathered on Genesis 15:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Judges 1:34

   And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

   ›Commentary on Judges 1:341 voice

   “The Amorites forced the children of Dan, etc. - Just as the ancient Britons were driven into the mountains of Wales by the Romans; and the native Indians driven back into the woods by the British settlers in America.

   Everything gathered on Judges 1:34→

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3. 2 Kings 14:26

   For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

   ›Commentary on 2 Kings 14:262 voices

   “For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter,.... Being sorely oppressed by their enemies, especially the Syrians; and he was moved to have compassion upon them, and show mercy to them: for, there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel: they were in the most forlorn and helpless condition; See Gill on Deu 32:36.

   “The Lord saw the affliction of Israel - It appears that about this time Israel had been greatly reduced; and great calamities had fallen upon all indiscriminately; even the diseased and captives in the dungeon had the hand of God heavy upon them, and there was no helper; and then God sent Jonah to encourage them, and to assure them of better days. He was the first of the prophets, after Samuel, whose writings are preserved; yet the prophecy delivered on this occasion is not extant; for what is now in the prophecies of Jonah, relates wholly to Nineveh.

   Everything gathered on 2 Kings 14:26→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Job 5:6

   Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Jeremiah 4:15

   For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 4:152 voices

   “(Verse 15) The voice of the messenger from Dan, announcing the idol (or pain) from Mount Ephraim. Near the location of the land of Judah, the divine word now speaks. For Dan, a tribe near Mount Lebanon and the city now called Paneas, looks towards the north: from where Nebuchadnezzar will come. But the idol Bel, or pain or wickedness, is described as coming from Mount Ephraim. After the tribe of Dan, the land of Ephraim follows, through which one reaches Jerusalem. Then judgment is interpreted: Ephraim, abundance.

   “Dan - The border-town of Palestine on the north Deu 34:1. Mount Ephraim - The northern boundary of Judaea itself. The invading army presses on so rapidly, that scarcely have the news arrived of its appearance at Dan, before fresh messengers announce that it has traversed the whole length of Galilee, and is now defiling through the mountains of Samaria. Affliction - The same word, aven, occurs in Jer 4:14, and apparently there is a play upon its double meaning: for from a root signifying worthlessness, it is used both for wickedness and for misery.

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 4:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Jonah 2:2

   And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

   ›Commentary on Jonah 2:21 voice

   “Out of the belly of hell - Among the Hebrews שאול sheol means the grave, any deep pit, the place of separate spirits, etc. Here the prophet represents himself as in the bottom of the sea; for so sheol must be understood in this place.

   Everything gathered on Jonah 2:2→

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7. Zechariah 1:15

   And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

   ›Commentary on Zechariah 1:152 voices

   “(Verse 14 and following) And the angel who spoke in me said to me: Cry out, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy, and with great anger I am angry (alternate: I will be angry) with the prosperous nations, for I was angry only a little, but they (alternate: they themselves) assisted in bringing about evil.

   “I am sore displeased - literally “with great anger am I angered against the nations which are at ease.” The form of the words shows that the greatness of the displeasure of God against those who oppress His people, is proportionate to the great and tender love toward themselves. God had been angered indeed with His people; with their enemies He was “angered with a great anger;” and that the more, because they were at ease, in unfeeling self-enjoyment amid the miseries of others.

   Everything gathered on Zechariah 1:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Matthew 3:15

   And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 3:152 voices

   “It becometh us to fulfil all righteousness - It becometh every messenger of God to observe all his righteous ordinances. But the particular meaning of our Lord seems to be, that it becometh us to do (me to receive baptism, and you to administer it) in order to fulfil, that is, that I may fully perform every part of the righteous law of God, and the commission he hath given me.

   “(Verse 15.) Without measure. He spoke beautifully, without measure, to show Christ in water, John to be baptized by Christ in spirit. Or differently, without measure: so that I, who assumed the form of a servant, may fulfill his humility. Otherwise, know that you shall be baptized by me in the day of my judgment. Without measure, says the Lord Jesus, I have another baptism by which I must be baptized. You baptize me in water, so that I may baptize you for me in your blood.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 3:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Romans 2:9

   Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

   ›Commentary on Romans 2:92 voices

   “Of the Jew first - Here we have the first express mention of the Jews in this chapter. And it is introduced with great propriety. Their having been trained up in the true religion, and having had Christ and his apostles first sent to them, will place them in the foremost rank of the criminals that obey not the truth.

   “Note that concerning the Lord's recompense in eternal life he expressed himself differently than concerning what is grievous. "Wrath," he says, "and indignation and tribulation." He did not say: shall be rendered by God, but left the sentence unfinished, so that one might understand: there …

   Everything gathered on Romans 2:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Philippians 1:16

    The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

    ›Commentary on Philippians 1:161 voice

    “Preach Christ of contention - The Judaizing teachers, they also preach Christ; they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ or promised Messiah, and preach him as such. Not sincerely - Ουχ ἁγνως· Not chastely, garbling the Gospel; not speaking the whole truth, but just what served their purpose; and at the same time they denounced the apostle as an enemy to the Divine institutions, because he spoke against circumcision.

    Everything gathered on Philippians 1:16→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 2 Timothy 1:8

    Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

    ›Commentary on 2 Timothy 1:81 voice

    “Be not - ashamed of the testimony - The testimony of Christ is the Gospel in general, which proclaims Christ crucified, and redemption through his blood. In the sight of the world, there appeared to be reason why a man should be ashamed of this; ashamed of him who was crucified as a malefactor; but, when this Gospel became the power of God to the salvation of every one that believed, it was a subject to exult in. Hence the apostle, Rom 1:16 (note), said, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

    Everything gathered on 2 Timothy 1:8→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Revelation 1:9

    I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

    ›Commentary on Revelation 1:91 voice

    “In the affliction, and kingdom and patience of Jesus - The kingdom stands in the midst. It is chiefly under various afflictions that faith obtains its part in the kingdom; and whosoever is a partaker of this kingdom is not afraid to suffer for Jesus, 2 Tim. ii, 12.

    Everything gathered on Revelation 1:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: suffer… · afflict… · tribulation…

Lives that met it (8)

Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of suffering.

• PaulApostle to the Gentiles · New TestamentPaul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians until the risen Christ appeared to him on the Damascus road. He became the greatest missionary and theologian of the early church.
• James, Son of ZebedeeSon of Thunder, First Apostle Martyred · New TestamentJames, son of Zebedee and brother of John, was part of Jesus' innermost circle of three, present at the transfiguration and in Gethsemane. Nicknamed a 'son of thunder' for his fiery temperament, he became the first apostle martyred, executed by Herod Agrippa I.
• JosephVizier of Egypt · PatriarchalJoseph rose from pit to palace through God's providence. Sold by jealous brothers, he became Egypt's vizier and saved his family from famine. His life powerfully prefigures Christ's rejection and exaltation.
• JobSuffering Servant · PatriarchalJob was a blameless man who suffered catastrophic loss. His story explores suffering, divine justice, and faith that perseveres without answers.
• Jehoram of Judah5th King of Judah · Divided KingdomSon of Jehoshaphat who married Ahab's daughter Athaliah and led Judah deeply into Baal worship. He murdered his brothers to secure the throne and died of a terrible bowel disease as prophesied by Elijah.
• Amaziah9th King of Judah · Divided KingdomThe ninth king of Judah who defeated Edom but then foolishly worshipped Edomite gods. He recklessly challenged King Jehoash of Israel, suffered a humiliating defeat, and was eventually assassinated.
• Jehoiachin19th King of Judah · Divided KingdomReigned only three months before surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar and being exiled to Babylon for 37 years. He was eventually released and given a place of honor at the Babylonian king's table, and he appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
• JeremiahThe Weeping Prophet · Late Judahite MonarchyJeremiah, son of the priest Hilkiah of Anathoth, prophesied through Judah's last forty years (c. 627-586 BC) and on into the Babylonian exile. Called the weeping prophet for the grief that runs through his book and Lamentations, he is one of the most personally open figures in the prophets.