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
In your loyal love you led [the] people whom you redeemed; in your strength you guided [them] to the abode of your holiness.
" 'You will not mistreat an alien, and you will not oppress him, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
And you will not oppress an alien; you yourselves know the feelings of the alien, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
Please forgive the sin of this people according to the greatness of your loyal love, just as you {forgave} this people, from Egypt until now."
[So] know that Yahweh your God, he [is] God, the trustworthy God, maintaining his covenant and his loyal love with those who love him and with those who keep his commandments to a thousand generations,
And you shall devour all of the peoples [that] Yahweh your God [is] giving to you; {you shall not pity them}, and you shall not serve their gods, [which] will be a snare for you.
[And he] executes justice for the orphan and widow, and [he is] one who loves [the] alien, to give to them food and clothing.
And let not something cling to your hand from the things devoted to destruction, so that Yahweh may turn back {from his burning anger}, and he may show compassion to you and he may [continue] to show compassion and [so] multiply you {just as he swore} to your ancestors,
and Yahweh your God will restore your fortunes, and he will have compassion [upon] you, and {he will again gather you together} from all the peoples where Yahweh your God scattered you there.
You shall forgive your people who sinned against you, [even] for all their transgressions which they committed against you. You shall give them compassion before their captors so that they may have compassion on them,
For we are slaves and in our bondage our God did not forsake us, and he has extended to us loyal love in the presence of the kings of Persia, to give to us deliverance [and] to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.
O Lord, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to revere in your name. Please, let your servant be successful this day and give him compassion before this man." I was cupbearer for the king.
But he [was] compassionate; he pardoned [their] guilt and did not destroy [them]. And many [times] he turned back his anger and did not stir up all his wrath,
But you, O Lord, [are] a compassionate and gracious God, {slow to anger} and abundant in loyal love and faithfulness.
As a father pities [his] children, [so] Yahweh pities those who fear him.
He has made his wonders {to be remembered}; Yahweh [is] gracious and compassionate.
[His] light rises in the darkness for the upright; [he is] gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Yahweh [is] gracious and compassionate, {slow to anger} and great in loyal love.
He who lends to Yahweh [is] he who is kind to the poor, and his benefits he will repay to him.
Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue [the] oppressed! Defend [the] orphan! Plead for [the] widow!
And he said, "Surely my people [are] children; they will not break faith." And he became a Savior to them.
O house of David, thus says Yahweh, "Execute judgment in the morning, justice, and deliver [the] one who has been seized from [the] hand of [the] oppressor, lest my wrath goes forth like the fire and it burns, and there is no [one who] quenches [it] because of the evil of your deeds.
And I will show you compassion, and he will have compassion on you and will restore you to your soil.
The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.
He has told you, O mortal, what [is] good, and what does Yahweh ask from you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Blessed [are] the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.
[As] he was saying these [things] to them, behold, one of the rulers came [and] knelt down before him, saying, "My daughter has just now died, but come, place your hand on her and she will live!"
And [when he] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd.
And [as he] got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.
And Jesus summoned his disciples [and] said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat, and I do not want to send them away hungry lest they give out on the way."
Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?'
"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat.
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!
And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?" And he said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read [it]?" read more. And he answered [and] said, "You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" And Jesus replied [and] said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat [him]. [After] inflicting blows on [him], they went away, leaving [him] half dead. Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and [when he] saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. And in the same way also a Levite, [when he] came down to the place and saw [him], passed by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, [when he] saw [him], had compassion. And he came up [and] bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal [and] brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the next day, he took out two denarii [and] gave [them] to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return. Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man who fell among the robbers?" So he said, "The one who showed mercy to him." And Jesus said to him, "You go and do likewise."
For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.
Behold, we consider blessed those who have endured. You have heard about the patient endurance of Job, and you saw the outcome from the Lord, that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
And finally, all [of you be] harmonious, sympathetic, showing mutual affection, compassionate, humble,