Romans 12:15
in Romans 12Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
KJV
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
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This verse in Romans 12
Commentary
16 notes on this verseTo rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep. Here too a suitable and fitting distinction must be maintained. For the joys of Christians are not to be joined to just any joys, nor are our tears to be joined to just any weeping. For if I should see someone rejoicing over a gain of money, or over the extent of his possessions, or over the eminence of worldly honor, I ought not to congratulate such people, since I know that mourning and tears follow joys of this kind.
This site's exposition
Bless those who persecute you
on Romans 12:14-16
Bless those who persecute you, and never curse them, echoes the Lord's own words at Matthew 5:44. Verse 15 asks the believer to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep. Verse 16 closes where verse 3 opened, against conceit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
If you weep with an unbeliever, you may provoke him to accept the Lord's teaching.
The first point, indeed, on which I shall join issue is this: whether a servant of God ought to share with the very nations themselves in matters of his kind either in dress, or in food, or in any other kind of their gladness. "To rejoice with the rejoicing, and grieve with the grieving," is said.
(And how worthy a thing is this, that, under the auspices of faith, men should congregate from all quarters to Christ! "See, how good and how enjoyable for brethren to dwell in unity!" This psalm you know not easily how to sing, except when you are supping with a goodly company!) But those conclaves first, by the operations of Stations and fastings, know what it is "to grieve with the grieving," and thus at last "to rejoice in company with the rejoicing." If we also, in our diverse provinces, (but) present mutually in spirit, observe those very solemnities, whose then celebration our present discourse has been defending, that is the sacramental law.
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Since it is possible to bless and not to curse, and yet not to do this out of love, he wishes us to be penetrated with the warmth of friendship throughout. And this is why he goes on in these words, that we are not only to bless, but even feel compassion for their pains and sufferings, whenever we happen to see them fallen into trouble. Yes, it will be said, but to join in the sorrows of mourners one can see why he ordered them, but why ever did he command them the other thing, when it is no such great matter? Aye, but that requires more of a high Christian temper, to rejoice with them that do rejoice, than to weep with them that weep. For this nature itself fulfils perfectly: and there is none so hard-hearted as not to weep over him that is in calamity: but the other requires a very noble soul, so as not only to keep from envying, but even to feel pleasure with the person who is in esteem. And this is why he placed it first. For there is nothing that ties love so firmly as sharing both joy and pain one with another. Do not then, because thou art far from difficulties thyself, remain aloof from sympathizing too. For when thy neighbor is ill-treated, thou oughtest to make the calamity thine own. Take share then in his tears, that thou mayest lighten his low spirits. Take share in his joy, that thou mayest make the joy strike deep root, and fix the love firmly, and be of service to thyself rather than to him in so doing, by thy weeping rendering thyself merciful, and by thy feeling his pleasure, purging thyself of envy and grudging. And let me draw your attention to Paul's considerateness. For he does not say, Put an end to the calamity, lest thou shouldest say in many cases that it is impossible: but he has enjoined the easier task, and that which thou hast in thy power. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
Bernard of ClairvauxSermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 10 · Written before 1153.
proposed
The mouth of Paul is a mighty and unfailing fountain, ever open to us all; and as I have often done before, so now too I draw from its resources in my attempt to interpret the breasts of the bride. "Rejoice," he said, "with those …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says: to rejoice with those who rejoice, he teaches about concord: first, he sets out nature of concord; second, the obstacles to it, at not minding high things. Concord can be considered in two ways. In one way, as regards the effect …
A great spirit is needed not only to not envy, but also to rejoice with those who rejoice. This shows a soul completely free from envy, and it means much more than to weep with those who weep; because nature itself, which draws us to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
True love will interest us in the sorrows and joys of one another, and teach us to make them our own. Observe the common mixture in this world, some rejoicing, and others weeping (as the people, Ezra iii. 12, 13 ), for the trial, as of other graces, so of brotherly love and Christian sympathy.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Rejoice with them ... - This command grows out of the doctrine stated in Rom 12:4-5, that the church is one; that it has one interest; and therefore that there should be common sympathy in its joys and sorrows. Or, enter into the welfare of your fellow-Christians, and show your attachment to them by rejoicing that they are made happy; compare 1Co 12:26, “And whether .... one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” In this way happiness diffuses and multiplies itself.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Rejoice with them that rejoice; and weep--the "and" should probably be omitted. with them that weep--What a beautiful spirit of sympathy with the joys and sorrows of others is here inculcated! But it is only one charming phase of the unselfish character which belongs to all living Christianity.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3517: “Sympathy and Song” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
SYMPATHY is a duty of manhood. We are all brethren sprung from the same stock and that which is a good to any man ought to be a joy to me. That any man should be sick or sorry should, in a measure, make me sad, but that any man should rejoice with a worthy joy—worthy of a creature made by God—should make other men thankful!
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3517: “Sympathy and Song” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
SYMPATHY is a duty of manhood. We are all brethren sprung from the same stock and that which is a good to any man ought to be a joy to me. That any man should be sick or sorry should, in a measure, make me sad, but that any man should rejoice with a worthy joy—worthy of a creature made by God—should make other men thankful! But what is thus a natural duty is elevated into a yet higher duty and a more sacred privilege among the regenerate among the family of God, for over and above the ties of manhood in the first Adam, there are the ties of our new manhood in the Second Adam—and there are bonds which arise out of our being quickened by the same life! We have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." We are members of one body, having only one Head—and one life throbs through all the members of that body. Hence, for us to strive with one another in joy and in sorrow would be to act contrary to the sacred instincts which arise out of Christian unity! If, indeed, we are one with Christ, we are also one with each other, and we must participate in the common joys and common sorrows of all the elect family. This, again, gathers yet higher force when the joys in question shall be spiritual joys. I am bound as a Christian to be thankful when my Brother prospers in business, but I may not be quite sure that that will be a real blessing to him. But if I know that his sou/prospers, then I may safely rejoice to the very fullest, for that must be a blessing to him and will bring honor to God! If I hear that any community prospers, I am bound to be glad of it, yet I cannot be sure, if the prosperity deals with wealth, that it is, on the whole, the best thing in the world.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice - Take a lively interest in the prosperity of others. Let it be a matter of rejoicing to you when you hear of the health, prosperity, or happiness of any brother. Weep with them that weep - Labour after a compassionate or sympathizing mind. Let your heart feel for the distressed; enter into their sorrows, and bear a part of their burdens. It is a fact, attested by universal experience, that by sympathy a man may receive into his own affectionate feelings a measure of the distress of his friend, and that his friend does find himself relieved in the same proportion as the other has entered into his griefs. “But how do you account for this?” I do not account for it at all, it depends upon certain laws of nature, the principles of which have not been as yet duly developed.
The words behind it
6 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| χαίρειν | chairein | to rejoice | G5463 → | 74 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with the | G3326 → | 461 times |
| χαιρόντων, | chaironton | rejoicing, | G5463 → | 74 times |
| κλαίειν | klaiein | to weep | G2799 → | |
| μετὰ | meta | with the | G3326 → | 461 times |
| κλαιόντων. | klaionton | weeping. | G2799 → |
χαίρεινto rejoice
chaireinG5463 →74 times
μετὰwith the
metaG3326 →461 times
χαιρόντων,rejoicing,
chairontonG5463 →74 times
κλαίεινto weep
klaieinG2799 →
μετὰwith the
metaG3326 →461 times
κλαιόντων.weeping.
klaiontonG2799 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:36
I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
- 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 10:34
You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
- 1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- Colossians 4:18
This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
- Matthew 25:36
Through
1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Hebrews 13:3
Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
- Galatians 6:2
Through
Job 30:25Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?
it leads to
- Psalms 35:13–14
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
- Psalms 35:13–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
About Romans
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 10; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3517: “Sympathy and Song” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 22; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Tertullian, On Idolatry; Tertullian, On Fasting; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.