σπλαγχνίζομαι
To pity
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnízomai) mean in the Bible?
σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnízomai) is a Greek word meaning "to pity". σπλαγχνίζομαι (σπλάγχνον), [in LXX (act. Reveals the Shepherd heart of Christ driving gospel mission. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Messiah.
Full entry for σπλαγχνίζομαι (G4697) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Deep emotional compassion originating from the bowels; visceral pity moving one to merciful action.
(σπλάγχνον), [in LXX (act., -ίζω): Pro.17:5 A, 2Ma.6:8 (= -εύω) * ;] to be moved as to the σπλάγχνα (which see), hence, to feel pity or compassion: absol., Luk.10:33 15:20; ptcp., σπλαγχνισθείς, with indic., Mat.18:27 20:34, Mrk.1:41; before ἐπί, with dative of person(s), Mat.14:14, Luk.7:13; ἐπί, with accusative, Mat.15:32, Mrk.6:34 8:2 9:22; ωερί, Mat.9:36. (The word is elsewhere found only in Sm: 1Ki.23:21, Eze.24:21, Test. Zeb., 4:6-7; see Thayer, see word; MM, xxiii quote Thumb, Hellen., 123 as practically confirming Lft. on Php.1:8, in the suggestion that the verb was a coinage of the Jewish dispersion.)
Why This Word Matters
Reveals the Shepherd heart of Christ driving gospel mission. Luke 10:25–37
Reveals the heart of Christ toward the afflicted. Luke 15:11–32
Reveals Christ’s shepherd heart. Luke 7:11–17
Demonstrates deep, active mercy. Mark 1:40–45
Reveals the emotional depth of divine mercy.
Reveals Christ’s deep covenant mercy.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 8×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 3×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 11 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain