40 Powerful Bible Verses About Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand someone else’s pain, struggle, joy and also share their perspective. It is the act of listening to people with the heart. Empathy is a very powerful emotion that over looks differences and leads to better understanding. It is important we show empathy wherever we find ourselves because already, the world is tough and hard on people, and by showing empathy to others the world will become a better place. Having compassion on people  is one way to show love, and love we know is the greatest. Empathy is a virtue that cannot be bought with money, but sadly not everyone possess this virtue. In this article, we will be giving you some powerful Bible verses that will help you to empathize with others to understand their state.

With so many demands that life throws at us, we can easily become self centered and disconnected from other people, because we will be busy sorting out our own issues. While trying to get solutions to personal issues, it is still important we extend care, love and compassion to others. Jesus experienced emotions that we experienced as humans while on earth. He showed empathy for the blind, the lame and those inflicted with one disease or the other. Let us live a Christ-like life here on earth.

SEE ALSO: 40 Powerful Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation

What does the Bible say about Empathy

The book of Proverbs 14:31 says “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker, but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor”.  This passage of the Bible tells us that when we show empathy on the poor, we honor God, but when we oppress them we show contempt towards him.

Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as Christ forgives us. The bible has made us to know in various scriptures that are blessings attached to showing compassion to people. Empathy describes the deep mercy of God. Here are some Bible that speaks on showing empathy;

Bible verses about compassion for Others

1. Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. – Luke 10:30-35
2. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23
3. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. – Matthew 9:36-38
4. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: – 1 Peter 4:10
5. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
6. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9
7. And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. – Zechariah 7:8-10
8. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. – Matthew 9:36
9. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15
10. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34
11. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. – Acts 4:34-35

God’s compassion Bible verses

1. And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. – Exodus 3:7
2. Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity, And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. – Micah 7:18-20
3. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
4. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
5. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Matthew 9:13
6. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. – Psalm 41:1-3
8. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalms 34:18

Bible Verses About Empathy

1. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. – Matthew 7:12
2. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. – Romans 12:15
3. Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. – 1 Peter 3:8
4. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
5. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. – Hebrews 13:3
6. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12
7. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19
8. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
9. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:9
10. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? – 1 John 3:17
11. Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4
12. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. – Luke 6:36
13. Jesus wept. – John 11:35
14. When Job’s three friends heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. – Job 2:11
15. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness, he will bring forth justice. – Isaiah 42:3
16. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
17. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:10
18. This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. – Jeremiah 22:3
19. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. – Proverbs 19:17
20. If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. – Isaiah 58:10
21. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17