Bible verses about compassion show a God who is full of tender mercy and a Saviour who was repeatedly moved with compassion for hurting people. Scripture describes compassion as more than a feeling; it leads to healing, feeding, forgiving and welcoming. The passages below trace that theme from Exodus to the Gospels, each with a note on what it shows.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
Psalms 103:13 (KJV)
As a father pities his children, the LORD pities those who fear Him, a tender picture of divine compassion.
The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Psalms 145:8-9 (KJV)
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22 (KJV)
Jeremiah says we are not consumed only because God’s compassions never fail.
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6 (KJV)
God proclaims Himself merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 (KJV)
Jesus was moved with compassion on the crowds because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14 (KJV)
Seeing a great multitude, Jesus was moved with compassion and healed their sick.
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mark 1:40-41 (KJV)
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out, touched a leper and made him clean.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luke 10:33-34 (KJV)
The Samaritan had compassion on the wounded man, bound up his wounds and cared for him.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:20 (KJV)
The father sees his returning son far off, has compassion, runs and embraces him.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:12 (KJV)
Believers are told to put on bowels of mercies, kindness and humbleness of mind as God’s chosen people.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
Peter calls believers to have compassion one of another and to love as brethren.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19 (KJV)
God delights in mercy and will turn again and have compassion on His people, casting their sins away.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isaiah 49:15 (KJV)
Even if a mother could forget her nursing child, God says He will never forget His people.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)
Our high priest is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, having been tempted in every way yet without sin.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:36 (KJV)
Jesus says simply, be merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zechariah 7:9 (KJV)
The LORD commands His people to show mercy and compassions every man to his brother.
From the start, the Bible presents compassion as part of who God is. When the LORD revealed His name to Moses in Exodus 34:6, He described Himself as merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness. Psalms 103:13 compares His care to a father who pities his children, and Lamentations 3:22 says His compassions fail not.
The Gospels show this compassion in action through Jesus. Matthew 9:36 records that He was moved with compassion when He saw the crowds scattered like sheep without a shepherd. He touched a leper in Mark 1:41 and healed the sick in Matthew 14:14. In the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, compassion is the quality that moves the Samaritan to stop, tend the man’s wounds and pay for his care, while others passed by.
Believers are called to share this same heart. Colossians 3:12 tells Christians to put on bowels of mercies and kindness, and 1 Peter 3:8 urges them to have compassion one of another. Luke 6:36 sums it up: be merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Biblical compassion notices suffering and responds with practical love.
The parable of the Good Samaritan pairs compassion directly with concrete action, refusing to separate the feeling from the response.
As Jesus approached the town of Nain, He encountered a funeral procession for a widow’s only son, and Scripture says His heart was moved with compassion the moment He saw her grief, before she had even asked Him for anything. He stopped the procession, spoke life back into the young man, and gave him back to his mother without being petitioned first. That unprompted compassion is exactly what this quality of compassion describe when mercy responds to need before it is even requested.
Jesus’s compassion for the widow of Nain shows that He notices sorrow even in a crowd, responding personally rather than passing by unaffected.
When religious leaders dragged a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, expecting Him to condemn her publicly, He instead knelt to write in the dust and quietly challenged her accusers before telling her that He did not condemn her either. His compassion did not ignore her sin, but it refused to let shame have the final word over her life. His response is one of the most tender Bible Verses About Compassion moments in the Gospels.
Jesus’s compassion toward her included a clear call to leave her sin behind, showing that mercy and truth were never meant to work against each other.
Before multiplying a few loaves and fish to feed a massive crowd, Jesus first noticed that the people were hungry and had nowhere nearby to buy food, moved with compassion for their physical need rather than only their spiritual questions. He addressed a practical problem with practical provision, not simply a spiritual lesson detached from real hunger. His attentiveness reflects the whole-person compassion found throughout this virtue.
Jesus’s compassion that day fed thousands from almost nothing, proof that noticing an ordinary physical need can lead to an extraordinary response.
Even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He still wept openly at the tomb, moved by the grief of Mary, Martha, and the mourners around them rather than rushing past their sorrow toward the miracle ahead. His tears show that compassion does not require uncertainty about the outcome to be genuine. This brief, powerful moment is often cited among Bible Verses About Compassion for its raw honesty.
Jesus’s compassion at Lazarus’s tomb reminds readers that entering someone’s grief fully, even briefly, matters even when a solution is already close at hand.
While the prodigal son was still a long way off, his father saw him and ran to meet him, moved with compassion before the son had finished rehearsing his apology or explained himself at all. The father’s response was immediate embrace rather than a demand for explanation first. His posture captures the heart of these examples regarding mercy that moves toward a person rather than waiting to be convinced.
The father’s compassion covered the son’s shame with a robe and a ring before a single word of apology had even been finished.
When Joseph finally revealed his identity to the brothers who had sold him into slavery, he wept so loudly that the Egyptians outside could hear him, moved with compassion rather than the anger his position would have justified. He reassured his frightened brothers and provided generously for their entire family despite everything they had done to him. His response reflects the costly compassion found throughout Bible Verses About Compassion toward people who caused real harm.
Joseph’s compassion toward his brothers reshaped an entire family’s future, showing how mercy extended to those who least deserve it can still change everything that follows.
When the Shunammite woman’s son died suddenly, she traveled urgently to find Elisha, and though his servant tried to send her away, Elisha noticed her deep distress and went immediately to her home, praying earnestly until the child was revived. His compassion required physical effort and sustained attention rather than a quick, distant blessing. His response is a demanding, hands-on example within this quality of compassion.
Elisha’s compassion for a grieving mother turned a tragedy into a testimony still told generations later, proof that compassion sometimes requires real time and effort to see through.
David sought out Jonathan’s disabled son Mephibosheth specifically to show him kindness for his father’s sake, restoring his grandfather’s land and inviting him to eat regularly at the king’s own table despite his physical limitations. David’s compassion was proactive, seeking out someone easily forgotten rather than waiting to be approached. His care reflects the intentional compassion described throughout Bible Verses About Compassion toward the vulnerable.
David’s compassion toward Mephibosheth honored a promise made years earlier, showing that genuine compassion often follows through long after circumstances have changed.
After Israel worshiped a golden calf in blatant rebellion, Moses pleaded urgently with God on their behalf, even offering to have his own name blotted out of God’s book if it meant Israel could be spared. His compassion for a deeply flawed, disobedient people led him to intercede rather than simply agreeing they deserved judgment. His intercession is one of the most sacrificial this virtue examples of pleading for others.
Moses’s compassion for Israel did not excuse their sin, yet it stood between them and immediate consequence, showing what costly intercession can look like.
In Jesus’s parable, a shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to search diligently for a single lost one, carrying it home on his shoulders with joy once it was found rather than treating the loss as an acceptable percentage. His willingness to prioritize one over the comfort of the many reflects a compassion that refuses to write anyone off. The parable remains one of the clearest Bible Verses About Compassion pictures of pursuit rather than passive waiting.
The shepherd’s compassion for the one lost sheep illustrates a search that does not stop until the missing one is finally found and safely home.
Beyond simply following the letter of gleaning law, Boaz instructed his workers to deliberately leave extra grain for Ruth and invited her to eat and rest with his own household staff, treating a poor foreign widow with dignity rather than mere legal tolerance. His compassion noticed her vulnerable situation before she had to explain it in detail. His care reflects the practical, protective compassion found throughout these examples toward those in vulnerable circumstances.
Boaz’s compassion toward Ruth grew into lasting provision, showing how noticing someone’s hidden struggle can lead to far more than a single act of kindness.
A Canaanite woman pleaded with Jesus for her demon-afflicted daughter, persisting even after an initial difficult response, appealing directly to His compassion by comparing herself to a dog eating crumbs from a master’s table. Jesus commended her great faith and healed her daughter immediately, honoring her persistent appeal. Her story shows that seeking compassion honestly, even through hardship, is welcomed rather than dismissed within Bible Verses About Compassion.
The Canaanite woman’s persistence in seeking compassion for someone she loved reveals that bold, honest appeals to mercy are never wasted, even when the answer seems delayed.
Lord, give me the compassion Jesus showed the widow of Nain, noticing grief before it is even spoken aloud. Teach me to weep with those who weep the way Jesus wept at Lazarus’s tomb, and to run toward someone returning home the way the prodigal’s father did. Help me seek out the overlooked the way David sought Mephibosheth, and to intercede for others the way Moses interceded for Israel. Let my compassion move toward people rather than waiting for them to prove they deserve it. Amen.
These small habits help the truth behind this quality of compassion take shape in daily relationships.
This weekly plan pairs Bible Verses About Compassion with the stories above.
Sit with these questions after reading through this virtue above.
English says compassion, but the Bible’s original words are earthier. The Hebrew word most often behind it, rachamim, grows out of the word for a womb. A mother carries a child before she ever sees its face, and that is the picture: tenderness that starts deep inside a body and was there before the baby arrived. When Hosea records God saying, ‘How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?’ and then adds, ‘mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together’ (Hosea 11:8), the speaker sounds like a parent who cannot finish the sentence of rejection.
The Greek of the Gospels reaches for a similar image. Where Matthew and Luke say Jesus was moved with compassion, the verb comes from the word for the inner organs, the gut. Ancient people located strong feeling in the stomach and intestines the way we point to the heart. So when a Gospel writer says Jesus was moved, he is not describing polite sympathy. He is describing something close to a physical lurch.
Why does that matter for the many Bible Verses About Compassion that we read? Because it corrects the idea that compassion is a mild mood. Scripture treats it as a force that interrupts a person, the way a stomach cramp does, and then demands an answer in what he does next.
Of every compassion story in the Bible, this one has the most unflattering hero. Jonah finally preached in Nineveh, the city had repented, and God held back the disaster He had announced. Jonah was furious. He walked out east of the city, built himself a shelter, and sat watching to see whether anything would still happen to the place he hated.
God grew a plant over his head for shade, and Jonah was delighted. The next morning a worm killed it, the sun beat down, and Jonah wanted to die over a dead vine. Then comes the question that closes the whole book: ‘And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?’ (Jonah 4:11).
Notice the cattle. God’s pity is wide enough to include animals, and Jonah, a prophet, could not see past his own shade. Most of us have been Jonah at least once, sure that mercy should stop at the people who frightened us or wronged our family. The book ends without telling us whether he answered. That silence feels deliberate. The question is aimed at the reader, and it stays open until we reply with our lives.
The short letter to Philemon shows compassion working inside a messy legal situation. Onesimus, a slave, had run away from Philemon, a believer in Colossae, and somehow ended up with Paul in prison. There he became a Christian and a help to the old apostle. Paul did not pretend that nothing had happened. He sent Onesimus back, carrying a letter.
What Paul wrote is full of heart. He says he is sending back, in the old wording, ‘mine own bowels’ (Philemon 1:12), the same gut-level word the Gospels use for Jesus. He asks Philemon to welcome the young man as a brother, offers to repay anything owed, and signs the promise in his own hand. Paul could have given an order. He chose to appeal on the ground of love, and he took on the cost himself.
That is a useful picture for anyone who has stepped between two people in conflict. Real compassion often means absorbing a portion of the damage, not just wishing everyone well. Paul put his name on the debt. It was costly, a little risky, and entirely public, which is probably why Philemon’s response got kept and copied in the New Testament instead of being quietly forgotten.
Some readers come to these passages already exhausted. They have sat with a dying parent, listened to a friend’s crisis every night for a month, or worked a helping job where the needs never end. A page of verses urging more compassion can feel like one more weight, so a gentle word is needed here.
Jesus himself stepped away. In Mark 6:31 He told the Twelve, ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while,’ because so many people were coming and going that they had no time even to eat. Rest was not a failure of love. Paul wrote, ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2), and only a few verses later, ‘let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not’ (Galatians 6:9). Both verses assume that carrying others is shared work, and that weariness is real.
If your sympathy has gone numb, that is information, not a moral verdict. Sleep, a day off, a pastor to talk to, or a counselor if the heaviness lingers are all sensible responses. A person who keeps going until nothing is left cannot help the next stranger. Let others carry some of the load, as you carry some of theirs.
People sometimes avoid compassion because they think it means being a pushover. Scripture does not agree. John writes, ‘But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?’ (1 John 3:17). That is a hard sentence. It treats closed-fisted indifference as a spiritual problem, not a personality quirk.
Yet compassion in the Bible is never naive. Jesus fed the crowd, and He also refused to be made king by them the next morning. He forgave, and He told people to stop sinning. Caring for a person sometimes means saying no to a request, declining to fund a harmful habit, or telling an uncomfortable truth with a steady voice. A parent who hands over the car keys every time a drunk teenager asks is not being kind.
So when you gather Bible Verses About Compassion for your own reading, hold the tenderness and the backbone together. The Lord who pities His children like a father is the same Lord who disciplines them, and both come from the same love. Ask what actually helps this person, not only what would feel gentle to you right now.
Keep exploring with these related pages: Bible Verses About Salvation, Bible Verses For Faith in Hard Times, Bible Verses For Blessings and Prosperity, Bible Verses About God's Faithfulness, Bible Verses For Relationships and Love, Bible Verses For Faith in God, Bible Verses For Fear, Bible Verses About God Giving Strength, Bible Verses For Courage and Faith, Bible Verses About True Love and Bible Verses For Forgiveness and Healing.
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From the start, the Bible presents compassion as part of who God is. When the LORD revealed His name to Moses in Exodus 34:6, He described Himself as merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness.
This page brings together 16 King James Version references about compassion, drawn from 10 different books of the Bible.
Exodus 34:6 is one of the verses about compassion referenced in this collection, alongside Psalms 103:13.
Yes, the verses referenced on this page, including Exodus 34:6, are quoted according to the King James Version (KJV), and are suitable for daily reading, memorization, or devotional use.
Beyond the references highlighted on this page, compassion appears throughout Scripture in books such as Exodus, Psalms, Lamentations, Matthew, Mark; this collection focuses on some of the clearest examples.
