100 Bible Verses about Empathy

Romans 12:15 ESV / 625 helpful votes

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1 Peter 3:8 ESV / 486 helpful votes

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 436 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 353 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

John 15:12 ESV / 282 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 275 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV / 244 helpful votes

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Colossians 3:12 ESV / 225 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 221 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

John 11:33-35 ESV / 199 helpful votes

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 189 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 177 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV / 158 helpful votes

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Matthew 9:36 ESV / 145 helpful votes

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV / 142 helpful votes

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Luke 7:36-50 ESV / 133 helpful votes

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” ...

John 13:34-35 ESV / 117 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Psalm 139:21-22 ESV / 116 helpful votes

Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

Hebrews 13:3 ESV / 112 helpful votes

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Psalm 56:8 ESV / 106 helpful votes

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Psalm 1:1 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Jeremiah 15:17 ESV / 102 helpful votes

I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Romans 15:1 ESV / 98 helpful votes

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 ESV / 93 helpful votes

That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

1 John 3:17 ESV / 91 helpful votes

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Mark 12:31 ESV / 88 helpful votes

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV / 86 helpful votes

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Psalm 34:18 ESV / 85 helpful votes

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 83 helpful votes

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 103:13-14 ESV / 83 helpful votes

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Philippians 2:2-4 ESV / 82 helpful votes

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 4:14 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

2 Corinthians 1:3 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

John 11:35 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Jesus wept.

Luke 6:31 ESV / 75 helpful votes

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Matthew 22:39 ESV / 75 helpful votes

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

James 2:15-17 ESV / 74 helpful votes

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Job 2:11 ESV / 74 helpful votes

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

1 John 3:16 ESV / 72 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

John 15:13 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Isaiah 53:5 ESV / 72 helpful votes

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Isaiah 66:13 ESV / 68 helpful votes

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Luke 8:43-48 ESV / 62 helpful votes

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ...

Psalm 103:14 ESV / 62 helpful votes

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 46:1 ESV / 61 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Job 30:25 ESV / 60 helpful votes

Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

1 Peter 4:10 ESV / 59 helpful votes

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Hebrews 5:2 ESV / 59 helpful votes

He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

Isaiah 30:18 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

2 Corinthians 11:29 ESV / 58 helpful votes

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

Matthew 14:14 ESV / 58 helpful votes

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Luke 15:20 ESV / 57 helpful votes

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Proverbs 24:17 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

Psalm 116:5 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.

Romans 5:6-8 ESV / 56 helpful votes

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 8:3-7 ESV / 55 helpful votes

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Job 31:29 ESV / 55 helpful votes

“If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him

James 5:11 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

1 Corinthians 2:3 ESV / 54 helpful votes

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

Isaiah 49:13 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Isaiah 40:1-31 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ...

Psalm 103:13 ESV / 54 helpful votes

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Exodus 33:19 ESV / 53 helpful votes

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV / 52 helpful votes

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 1:6 ESV / 52 helpful votes

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

Luke 19:41-42 ESV / 51 helpful votes

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Romans 8:26 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Psalm 55:16-17 ESV / 48 helpful votes

But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Daniel 1:17 ESV / 47 helpful votes

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 46 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Mark 1:41 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

1 Kings 3:9-12 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

Mark 7:32-35 ESV / 43 helpful votes

And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 41 helpful votes

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Psalm 72:13 ESV / 40 helpful votes

He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

Romans 12:15-16 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

John 11:33 ESV / 38 helpful votes

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

John 11:19 ESV / 38 helpful votes

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 37 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Job 2:13 ESV / 37 helpful votes

And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Deuteronomy 10:19 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV / 37 helpful votes

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Luke 7:11-16 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ...

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 35 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

Acts 16:24-28 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Romans 5:12 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Acts 16:30-34 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Exodus 23:9 ESV / 33 helpful votes

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Mark 5:3-4 ESV / 32 helpful votes

He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.

1 Samuel 30:3-4 ESV / 32 helpful votes

And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 28 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Psalm 79:1-13 ESV / 26 helpful votes

A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? ...

Ephesians 2:12-3:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ...

Job 14:22-15:21 ESV / 24 helpful votes

He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.” Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God. ...

Suggest a Verse


Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for.