Empathy is a virtue that fosters compassion, understanding, and connection with others in their joys and struggles. In the Bible, we find examples of empathy demonstrated by Jesus and His followers, as well as exhortations to practice empathy in our relationships. Join us as we reflect on verses that inspire empathy, encouraging us to love and serve others with kindness, empathy, and the heart of Christ.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation
Bible Verses About Empathy
Matthew 9:36 – Jesus had great empathy for the crowds.
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Proverbs 19:17 – Showing empathy to the poor is lending to the Lord.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Colossians 3:12 – Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and empathy.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
1 Corinthians 12:26 – If one suffers, all members suffer together.
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
“The LORD is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Hebrews 13:3 – Remember those in prison and those who are mistreated, as if you were with them.
“Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
James 1:27 – Visit and help widows and orphans in their affliction.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Luke 10:33-34 – The Good Samaritan showed empathy to the wounded man.
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Isaiah 58:7 – Share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house.
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
1 Peter 3:8 – Be sympathetic, loving one another, and showing empathy to others.
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Matthew 14:14 – Jesus had compassion on the sick and healed them.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – God is the Father of compassion and comforts us.
“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.”
Psalm 41:1 – Blessed is the one who considers the poor, for the Lord delivers them in their day of trouble.
“Blessed is the one who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.”
Zechariah 7:9 – Show mercy and compassion to one another.
“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”
Luke 15:20 – The father showed great empathy towards his prodigal son.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Romans 15:1 – We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
Proverbs 3:27 – Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is within your power to act.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is within your power to act.”
Matthew 25:35-36 – Show empathy by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
1 John 3:17 – If you have material possessions and see your brother in need, have empathy and help them.
“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?”
Romans 2:4 – God’s kindness and patience leads us to repentance.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Psalm 68:6 – God is a father to the fatherless and defender of widows.
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
Matthew 7:12 – Treat others as you would like to be treated.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
2 Corinthians 4:15 – Extend empathy to others so that grace may increase and thanksgiving abound.
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
Proverbs 21:13 – Whoever closes their ears to the cry of the poor will cry out themselves and not be answered.
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”
Isaiah 1:17 – Seek justice, correct oppression, and bring justice to the fatherless.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encourage and build up one another.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Ezekiel 36:26 – God gives us a heart of flesh, replacing our heart of stone.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Psalm 103:13 – As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”
Proverbs 14:21 – Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
“Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”
Isaiah 30:18 – The Lord longs to be gracious and show empathy to you.
“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
John 11:33-35 – Jesus wept when he saw the pain and grief of Mary and others.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. … Jesus wept.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of the Spirit includes kindness and goodness.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Job 29:15 – Job served as eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
“I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 – Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Luke 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Galatians 6:10 – Do good to everyone, especially those in the household of faith.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Proverbs 19:22 – A person is desired for their kindness.
“What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.”
1 John 4:11 – Since God loved us, we also ought to love one another.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Psalm 39:7 – Our hope is in God, and we rely on Him alone for empathy and comfort.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”
Philippians 2:4 – Have empathy and consider others’ interests above your own.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”