Bible Word Study
συμπαθής
sympathēs · sympathizing, compassionate
συμπαθής
sympathizing, compassionate
Definition
The adjective συμπαθής (sympathēs) means 'sympathizing' or 'compassionate,' describing someone who feels and suffers with others. It denotes a deep, shared emotional experience, going beyond mere pity to active, empathetic solidarity. In the New Testament, its sole use in 1 Peter 3:8 calls believers to be 'sympathetic' (συμπαθεῖς) as a key component of Christian unity and love within the community.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 3:8. Here, it appears in a list of virtues that should characterize all Christians: 'Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.' Its usage is specifically ethical and communal, instructing believers on how to relate to one another within the body of Christ.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the root πάθος (pathos), meaning 'feeling,' 'experience,' or 'suffering.' It literally means 'to suffer with' or 'to feel with.' This compound formation is similar to the English word 'sympathy,' which comes from the same Greek roots.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures a core Christian ethic: empathetic love within the church. It reflects the character of Christ, who is a 'sympathetic high priest' (Hebrews 4:15, using the related verb συμπαθέω). Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of 1 Peter 3:8 by emphasizing that Christian unity is not just agreement in thought but a shared, heartfelt participation in one another's joys and sorrows. In the Greco-Roman world, philosophical schools like Stoicism discussed sympathy (συμπάθεια) as a cosmic principle or a natural human capacity. The New Testament co-opts this term, infusing it with a distinctly Christian motivation—the call to mutual love and care within the new community founded on Christ's example of self-giving love. εὔσπλαγχνος (eusplanchnos, G2155) — tender-hearted, compassionate, focusing on inward affection. οἰκτίρμων (oiktirmōn, G3629) — merciful, often used of God, emphasizing pity. σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai, G4697) — to be moved with compassion, a strong visceral feeling.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]