Bible Dictionary

SORROW

Doctrine & Theology • Both

Sorrow is grief, distress, or pain of heart. Scripture presents it as a consequence of sin and a means of discipline, while showing that the righteous may suffer sorrow and that God will ultimately remove it from the redeemed.

Definition

Sorrow is grief, distress, pain, or heaviness of heart. Biblical usage includes suffering, mourning, inward anguish, and the painful consequences of sin. Sorrow may also contribute to discipline and the development of the heart’s higher qualities.

Biblical Usage

Scripture teaches that sorrow follows sin, yet the righteous are not exempt from it. The Servant of Yahweh is described as a man of sorrows, while Christians may be sorrowful yet rejoicing. The New Jerusalem is presented as the place where sorrow and mourning will cease.

Historical Background

The Old Testament uses many terms translated “sorrow,” while the New Testament commonly uses a word meaning grief or distress. Revised translations sometimes render these terms more specifically as toil, pangs, pining, distress, lamentation, or heaviness.

Historical Bible Dictionaries

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

sor'-o (chebhel, yaghon, makh'obh, etc.; lupe): The Old Testament has very many words translated "sorrow," those named being the most frequent; in the New Testament "sorrow" is usually the translation of lupe (Lu 22:45; Joh 16:6; 2Co 2:3,7, etc.). Penthos, translated "sorrow" in Re 18:7; 21:4, is in the Revised Version (British and American) "mourning." Odune, of pain-and distress, is thus rendered in Ro 9:2; 1Ti 6:10 (compare the verb in Lu 2:48; Ac 20:38). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently gives a more literal rendering of the words used, as "toil" (Ge 3:17), "pangs" (Ex 15:14), "pining" (De 28:65), "distress" (Isa 5:30), "lamentation" (Isa 29:2), etc.; sometimes also it uses "sorrow" for other words, as for "grief" (2Ch 6:29; Ps 31:10; 69:26; etc.; 2Co 2:5), "heaviness" (Ro 9:2; 2Co 2:1).Sorrow or grief is necessary for discipline, for the development of the finer feelings and higher nature of the soul and spirit (Ec 7:3, "Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad," margin "better"). Sorrow inevitably follows sin, and is its punishment, yet the righteous are not exempt from it. The "Servant of Yahweh" was "a man of sorrows" (Isa 53:3). Christians learn how to be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2Co 6:10; 7:4; Col 1:24; 1Th 1:6; etc.). In the New Jerusalem it is predicted that there shall be no sorrow, for sorrow shall have done its work, and the first things have passed away (Re 21:4).W. L. Walker

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