The sadness experienced when people or circumstances do not fulfil expectations.
Disappointment caused by people or circumstances
Job 6:19–21; Jeremiah 8:15 See also Psalm 10:1; Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 13:12, Proverbs 17:21, Proverbs 29:21; Ecclesiastes 6:2; Isaiah 49:4; Jeremiah 2:36, Jeremiah 14:19; Lamentations 4:17; Ezekiel 37:11
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it. They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment. For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror.
Disappointment as a result of not understanding God's purposes
Luke 24:21 See also Job 30:26; Psalm 73:13; Jeremiah 15:18
But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.
Disappointment as the result of sin
Proverbs 11:7; Haggai 1:9 See also Job 11:20; Proverbs 10:28; Lamentations 3:18; Hosea 13:15; Joel 1:10; Zechariah 9:5
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
Examples of disappointment
Ruth 1:20 Naomi at her losses; 1 Samuel 1:10 Hannah with her childlessness; 1 Samuel 15:11 Samuel with Saul; 1 Samuel 30:3–6 David and his men at Ziklag; 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah with his own performance; Matthew 19:22 parallels Mark 10:22, Luke 18:23 the rich young man; 2 Corinthians 12:21 Paul's possible disappointment with the Corinthians; Galatians 1:6 Paul with the Galatians
God's disappointment with people
Genesis 6:6; 1 Samuel 15:35 See also Psalm 78:40; Isaiah 63:10; Ezekiel 6:9
And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
God does not disappoint his faithful people
Joshua 21:45; Romans 5:5 See also Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 22:5, Psalm 25:3, Psalm 119:116
Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.