συλλυπέομαι

I am grieved

Definition

συλλυπέομαι (syllypeomai) means 'to be grieved together with' or 'to share in grief.' It expresses a deep, empathetic sorrow felt in response to another person's pain or a distressing situation. In its sole New Testament occurrence, Mark 3:5, it describes Jesus' emotional response to the Pharisees' hardness of heart, indicating a grief that is both personal and relational. The word combines the idea of personal sorrow (λύπη) with a communal prefix (συν-), emphasizing shared emotional experience rather than a detached observation of sadness.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Mark 3:5. It describes Jesus' internal state as he looks upon the Pharisees in the synagogue, who are watching to see if he will heal a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The context is one of confrontation and spiritual obstinacy. Jesus' grief is provoked by their calloused hearts, showing his deep emotional investment in human spiritual condition and his sorrow over human sin and hardness.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (syn, meaning 'with' or 'together') and the verb λυπέω (lypeō, meaning 'to grieve' or 'to cause pain'). It is a compound verb literally meaning 'to grieve with.' The root λυπέω is related to the noun λύπη (lypē, 'sorrow' or 'pain'). This construction emphasizes a participatory, shared emotional experience rather than solitary grief.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it reveals the compassionate and empathetic nature of Jesus. His grief in Mark 3:5 is not merely disappointment but a profound, shared sorrow over human sin and spiritual blindness. It underscores the doctrine of Christ's full humanity and his deep emotional connection to people. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that Jesus' reactions to human failure are not coldly judicial but are imbued with a grieving love that seeks restoration.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, expressions of grief and shared sorrow were important components of social bonds and philosophical discourse on virtue (like compassion). However, Jesus' grief in this context transcends a general cultural sentiment; it is specifically directed at religious hypocrisy and a hardness of heart that rejects God's mercy and purpose, even on the Sabbath—a day intended for good.

λυπέω (lypeō, G3076) — a more general term for causing grief or being grieved, without the necessary connotation of shared experience. σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai, G4697) — to be moved with compassion or pity, often leading to merciful action, whereas συλλυπέομαι focuses on the shared emotional state of grief itself.

Word Details

Scripture References