The human reponse to painful and distressing life situations, especially those involving loss.
Sorrow caused by the trials of life
Psalm 90:10 See also Psalm 13:1–2, Psalm 31:9; Ecclesiastes 1:18, Ecclesiastes 2:23; Jeremiah 20:18
The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty if we are strong — yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Sorrow caused by fulfilling God's will
1 Peter 1:6 See also Matthew 26:38; Philippians 2:27
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
Sorrow caused by illness
Isaiah 38:2–3 See also Psalm 6:1–7
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Sorrow caused by childlessness
Do not take your servant for a wicked woman, for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”
Sorrow caused by parting
Acts 20:37 See also Matthew 17:23 the disciples' reaction to Jesus Christ predicting his death; Luke 22:45; John 16:6
They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
Sorrow caused by bereavement
Genesis 23:2; John 20:11 See also Genesis 50:1; Deuteronomy 34:8; 2 Samuel 19:2; Luke 7:12–14, Luke 8:52; John 11:33–35; Acts 8:2
She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.
But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,
Sorrow caused by national calamities
Psalm 137:1 See also Isaiah 15:3, Isaiah 22:4; Jeremiah 22:10, Jeremiah 48:17; Ezekiel 21:6, Ezekiel 27:30
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
God and sorrow
God is close to those who grieve
Psalm 34:18 See also Psalm 10:14; Isaiah 53:4; John 11:35
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
God comforts the sorrowing
Jeremiah 31:13 See also Isaiah 35:10; Lamentations 3:32–33; John 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14; Revelation 21:4
Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.
Sorrow in response to human sin
The result of sinning
Psalm 16:4 See also 1 Samuel 2:33
Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.
Grief over the failure of others
2 Corinthians 2:4–5 See also Genesis 34:7; 1 Samuel 20:34; Ezra 10:6; Ezekiel 9:4; Romans 9:2; 1 Corinthians 5:2
For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you — to some degree, not to overstate it.
Grief over one's own shortcomings
Matthew 5:4 See also Matthew 26:75; 2 Corinthians 7:9–11; James 4:9
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Sorrow in response to God's judgment on human sin
Lamentations 1:5 See also Nehemiah 1:4; Jeremiah 8:21, Jeremiah 10:19, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 14:2; Ezekiel 21:6, Ezekiel 21:12; Amos 5:16–17, Amos 8:10; Micah 1:8; Zephaniah 1:15; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 8:12, Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7
Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD has brought her grief because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives before the enemy.
Jesus Christ's sorrow in response to human sin
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
The promise of final deliverance from sorrow
See also Isaiah 35:10; Revelation 21:4
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.