Reference: Pity
Hastings
This word is entirely synonymous with compassion both in OT and NT, except, perhaps, in 1Pe 3:8, where 'sympathetic' would better express the meaning of the original word (see Revised Version margin). Pity was regarded by OT writers as holding an essential place in the relations of God and His people (see Ps 78:38; 86:15; 103:13; 111:4; 112:4; 145:8; Isa 63:8; cf. Jas 5:11). One of the ways in which this Divine feeling became active on their behalf reveals an incipient belief in the dealings of Jehovah with nations other than Israel; for He is often represented as infusing compassion for His chosen into the hearts of their enemies (cf. 1Ki 8:50; 2Ch 30:9; Ps 106:46; Ezr 9:9; Ne 1:11; Jer 42:12). An objective manifestation of the feeling of pity in the heart of God was recognized in the preservation of His people from destruction (La 3:22 f.), and in the numerous instances which were regarded as the interventions of mercy on their behalf (cf. Ex 15:13; Nu 14:19; De 13:17; 30:3; 2Ki 13:23; 2Ch 36:15). The direct result of this belief was that Israelites were expected to display a similar disposition towards their brethren (cf. Mic 6:8; Isa 1:17; Jer 21:12; Pr 19:17). They were not required, however, to look beyond the limits of their own race (De 7:16, See De 7:9) except in the case of individual aliens who might at any time be living within their borders (see Ex 22:21; 23:9; De 10:18 f. etc.).
In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus inculcates the exercise of pity in men's dealings with each other, and teaches the sacredness of its character by emphasizing its identity with God's compassion for sinners (Mt 18:33; cf. Lu 6:36; Mt 5:7; 9:18). The teaching of Jesus, moreover, broadened its conception in the human mind by insisting that henceforth it could never be confined to the members of the Jewish nation (cf. the parable of the Good Samaritan, Lu 10:25-37). At the same time His own attitude to the thronging multitudes surrounding Him was characterized by profound pity for their weaknesses (Mt 15:32 = Mr 8:2; cf. Mt 9:36; 14:14). Under His guidance, too, Divine pity for the world was transmuted into that Eternal Love which resulted in the Incarnation (Joh 3:16). Side by side with this development, and in exact correspondence with it, Jesus evolves out of human pity for frailty the more fundamental, because it is the more living, quality of love, which He insists will be active even in the face of enmity (Mt 5:43 f., Lu 6:27 ff.).
J. R. Willis.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Thou hast led forth in thy lovingkindness, the people which thou hast redeemed, - Thou hast guided them in thy might into the home of thy holiness.
And, a sojourner, shalt thou not tread down neither shalt thou drive him away, - for sojourners, ye became in the land of Egypt.
And a sojourner, shalt thou not drive away, - seeing that, ye yourselves, know the, soul of a sojourner; for sojourners, became ye in the laud of Egypt.
Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people, According to the greatness of thy lovingkindness, - And according as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even thus far.
So then, thou must know that, Yahweh thy God, he, is God, - the faithful GOD, keeping his covenant and his lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations
and thou shalt devour all the peoples whom, Yahweh thy God, delivering up unto thee, thine eye shall not look with pity upon them, neither shalt thou serve their gods, for a snare, would it be unto thee.
executing the vindication of the orphan and the widow, - and loving sojourner, giving him food and raiment.
So shall there not cleave to thy hand aught of the devoted thing, - that Yahweh may turn away, from the glow of his anger and grant thee compassion and have compassion upon thee and multiply thee, as he sware unto thy fathers;
then will Yahweh thy God bring back thy captivity and have compassion upon thee, - and return and gather thee from among all the peoples whither Yahweh thy God hath scattered thee.
and grant forgiveness to thy people, who have sinned against thee, even as to all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, - and grant them compassion before their captors, so that they may have compassion upon them;
For, bondmen, we are, but, in our bondage, hath our God not forsaken us, - but extended unto us lovingkindness before the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up on high the house of our God, to raise up the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
I beseech thee O My Lord, let - I pray thee - thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.
Yet, he, full of compassion, would put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and not destroy, - Yea, many a time, turned he back his anger, And would not stir up all his wrath.
But, thou, O My Lord, art, A God of compassion and favour, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness a faithfulness.
Like the compassion of a father for his children, Is, the compassion of Yahweh, for them who revere him;
Risen - in darkness, is light to the upright, The gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Gracious and compassionate, is Yahweh, - slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.
A lender to Yahweh, is one who sheweth favour to the poor, and, his good deed, He will pay him back.
Learn to do well - Seek justice, Correct the oppressor, - Vindicate the fatherless, Plead the cause of the widow,
Therefore he said - Surely my people, they are, Sons, they will not act falsely! So he became their saviour.
O house of David! Thus, saith Yahweh, Administer justice betimes, And deliver the robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, - Lest mine indignation come forth like fire And burn and there be none to quench it, Because of the wickedness of your doings:
that I may grant you compassions and he may have compassion upon you, - and suffer you to return unto your own soil.
The lovingkindnesses of Yahweh, verily they are not exhausted, Verily! not at an end, are his compassions:
He hath told thee, O son of earth, what is good, - what then is, Yahweh, seeking of thee, but, to do justice, to delight in lovingkindness, and humbly to walk with thy God?
Happy, the merciful; for, they, shall receive mercy:
Ye have heard, that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
While, these things, he was speaking unto them, lo! a certainruler, came, and began bowing down to him, saying, - My daughter, just now died! But come, and lay thy hand upon, her, and she shall live.
But, seeing the multitudes, he was moved with compassion concerning them, because they were torn and thrown down, like sheep hating no shepherd.
And, coming forth, he saw a great multitude, - and was moved with compassion a over them, and cured their sick.
But, Jesus, calling near his disciples, said - My compassions are moved towards the multitude, because even now, three days, abide they with me, and they have nothing to eat, - and, to dismiss them fasting, I am not willing, lest by any means they faint in the way.
Was it not binding, upon thee also, to have mercy upon thy fellow-servant, as, I also, on thee, had mercy?
I am moved with compassion towards the multitude, because, already three days, abide they with me, and they have nothing to eat;
But, unto you, I say, who are hearkening: Be loving your enemies; be doing, good, unto them that hate you;
Become ye compassionate, according as, your Father, is, compassionate;
And lo! a certain lawyer, arose, putting him to the test, saying - Teacher! by doing what, shall I inherit, life age-abiding? And, he, said unto him - In the law, what is written? how dost thou read? read more. And, he, answering, said - Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, out of all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, and with all thine intention; and thy neighbour, as thyself? And he said unto him - Rightly, hast thou answered: This, do, and thou shalt live. But, he, wishing to justify himself, said unto Jesus - And, who is, my, neighbour? And taking up the question , Jesus said - A certain man, was going down from Jerusalem unto Jericho, and, with robbers, fell in, - who, stripping him, and inflicting, wounds, upon him, departed, leaving him, half dead. And, by chance, a certain priest, was coming down by that road, and, seeing him, passed by, on the opposite side. And, in like manner, a Levite also, coming down to the place, and seeing him, passed by, on the opposite side. But, a certain Samaritan, going on his journey, came down to him, and, seeing him, was moved with compassion; and, coming near, bound up his bruises, pouring thereon oil and wine, - and, setting him on his own beast, brought him into an inn, and took care of him. And, on the morrow, throwing out two denaries, he gave them to the inn-keeper, and said - Take care of him, and, whatsoever thou shall further spend, I, when on my way back, will duly pay thee. Which of these three, seemeth unto thee to have become, neighbour, unto him who fell among the robbers? And, he, said - He who dealt mercifully with him. And Jesus said unto him - Be taking thy journey, and, thou, be doing, in like manner.
For God, so loved, the world, that, his Only Begotten Son, he gave, - that, whosoever believeth on him, might not perish, but have life age-abiding.
Lo! we pronounce them happy who have endured; - Of the endurance of Job, ye have heard, and, the end of the Lord, have ye seen, - that, of much tender affection, is the Lord, and full of compassion,
And, finally, all, being of one mind, having fellow - feeling, attached to the brethren, of tender affection, of lowly mind: