Sympathy

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningJob 2:11–13Job 6:14Job 22:29Ecclesiastes 7:2Philippians 2:1Philippians 2:2James 1:271 Peter 3:8
• See Afflicted
• See Afflictions
• See Jesus, Compassion of
• See Pity

The passages, in Bible order (8)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 8 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Job 2:11–13

   Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

   ›Commentary on Job 2:11–132 voices

   “Teman means "at the right hand"; and then the south, namely, part of Idumea; capital of Edom (Am 1:12). Hebrew geographers faced the east, not the north as we do; hence with them "the right hand" was the south.

   “Now when Job’s three friends heard - It would seem from this that these men were his particular friends. They came every one from his own place - His residence. This was the result of agreement or appointment thus to meet together. Eliphaz the Temanite - This was the most prominent of his friends. In the ensuing discussion he regularly takes the lead, advances the most important and impressive considerations, and is followed and sustained by the others. The Septuagint renders this Ελιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμαινῶν βασιλεὺς Elifaz ho Thaimainōn basileus - Eliphaz, the king of the Themanites.

   Everything gathered on Job 2:11–13→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Job 6:14

   A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

   ›Commentary on Job 6:141 voice

   “To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty - The Vulgate gives a better sense, Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini dereliquit, “He who takes away mercy from his friend, hath cast off the fear of the Lord.” The word למס lammas, which we render to him who is Afflicted, from מסה masah, to dissolve, or waste away, is in thirty-two of Dr. Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS. למאס lemoes, “to him that despiseth his friend;” and hence the passage may be read: To him who despiseth his friend, it is a reproach; and he will forsake the fear of the Almighty: or, as Mr. Good translates, “Shame to the man who despiseth his friend!

   Everything gathered on Job 6:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Job 22:29

   When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.

   ›Commentary on Job 22:292 voices

   “Therefore it is better, I think, to take the first clause as referred to by "God resisteth the proud." When (men) are cast down, thou shalt say (behold the effects of) pride. Eliphaz hereby justifies himself for attributing Job's calamities to his pride. "Giveth grace to the humble," answers to the second clause.

   “For he that has been abased shall be in glory, and he that has bent down his eyes, the same shall be saved. Which same sentence is not at variance with the mouth of 'Truth,' when It says, For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And hence it is said by Solomon, Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

   Everything gathered on Job 22:29→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Ecclesiastes 7:2

   It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

   ›Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:22 voices

   “Proving that it is not a sensual enjoyment of earthly goods which is meant in Ec 3:13; A thankful use of these is right, but frequent feasting Solomon had found dangerous to piety in his own case.

   “If anyone wants to ascend, let him seek not the joys of the world or the pleasant things or the delights but whatever is filled with pain and weeping; for it is better to go into a house of sorrow than into a house of rejoicing. Indeed, Adam would not have come down from paradise unless he had been beguiled by pleasure.

   Everything gathered on Ecclesiastes 7:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Philippians 2:1

   Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:12 voices

   “(1) "If there be (with you) any consolation in Christ," that is, any consolation of which Christ is the source, leading you to wish to console me in my afflictions borne for Christ's sake, ye owe it to me to grant my request "that ye be like-minded" [CHRYSOSTOM and ESTIUS]: (2) "If there be any comfort of (that is, flowing from) love," the adjunct of "consolation in Christ";

   “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ - This, with what is said in the remainder of the verse, is designed as a motive for what he exhorts them to in Php 2:2 - that they would be of the same mind, and would thus fulfill his joy. To urge them to this, he appeals to the tender considerations which religion furnished - and begins by a reference to the consolation which there was in Christ. The meaning here may be this: “I am now persecuted and afflicted.

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Philippians 2:2

   then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.

   ›Commentary on Philippians 2:21 voice

   “Flee, therefore, the wicked devices and snares of the spirit which now worketh in the children of this world, lest at any time being overcome, ye grow weak in your love. But be ye all joined together with an undivided heart and a willing mind, "being of one accord and of one judgment," [Philippians 2:2] being always of the same opinion about the same things, both when you are at ease and in danger, both in sorrow and in joy.

   Everything gathered on Philippians 2:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. James 1:27

   Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

   ›Commentary on James 1:272 voices

   “The only true religion in the sight of God, is this, to visit - With counsel, comfort, and relief. The fatherless and widows - Those who need it most.

   “Pure . . . and undefiled--"Pure" is that love which has in it no foreign admixture, as self-deceit and hypocrisy. "Undefiled" is the means of its being "pure" [TITTMANN].

   Everything gathered on James 1:27→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Peter 3:8

   Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

   ›Commentary on 1 Peter 3:82 voices

   “For as it is enjoined on them, "to be subject to their masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward," as Peter says; so fairness, and forbearance, and kindness, are what well becomes the masters. For he says: "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be humble," and so forth, "that ye may inherit a blessing," excellent and desirable.

   “Be ye all of one mind - Unity, both in the family and in the Church, being essentially necessary to peace and salvation. See on Rom 12:16 (note); Rom 15:5 (note). Having compassion - Συμπαθεις· Being sympathetic; feeling for each other; bearing each other’s burdens. Love as brethren - Φιλαδελφοι· Be lovers of the brethren. Pitiful - Ευσπλαγχνοι· Tender-hearted; let your bowels yearn over the distressed and afflicted. Courteous - Φιλοφρονες· Be friendly-minded; acquire and cultivate a friendly disposition.

   Everything gathered on 1 Peter 3:8→

   Verse page →Original language →