bible verses about compassion

Bible Verses About Compassion: 15 Scriptures on Mercy and Caring for Others

God's compassion never fails, Jesus was moved with compassion, and Scripture shows how to show compassion to others.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 2026Updated October 26, 20266 min readColossians 3:12 (NIV)

A person helps a stranger up beside a roadside where a donkey and bundles rest.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

— Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about compassion want Scripture for a heart that moves toward pain — not pity from a distance, kindness that costs something, and love that refuses coldness. This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay sits under Love and compassion. Related lists: Bible verses about kindness, Bible verses about mercy, Bible verses about loving others, and Sympathy Bible verses.

Word study (lead verse). In Colossians 3:12 Paul says to put on oiktirmos — compassion / tender mercy — from Greek οἰκτιρμός (Strong's G3628): pity that feels the other's misery and moves to help, not a thin emotion that stays seated. See also Bible Hub G3628.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 3:12-17 ties election to lowly compassion: "Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all" (Bible Hub commentaries on Colossians 3:12; fuller MHC on the chapter at Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Colossians 3 and Bible Hub MHC Colossians 3).

15 Bible verses about compassion

  1. Colossians 3:12. "…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Compassion is clothing you put on — practiced, not accidental.

  2. Lamentations 3:22-23. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning…" God's compassions are daily and durable. See What does hesed mean?.

  3. Psalm 103:13. "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him…" Father-language for compassion: near, not distant. See Bible verses about a father's love.

  4. Matthew 9:36. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus's compassion starts with seeing — then moves toward need.

  5. Ephesians 4:32. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Compassion and forgiveness walk together. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  6. 1 Peter 3:8. "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." Community life needs sympathy and humility, not only correct opinions.

  7. Zechariah 7:9. "This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.'" Compassion is not only private feeling — it shapes how people treat each other in public.

  8. Luke 10:33-34. "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds…" Compassion crosses the road and uses hands. See Bible verses about loving your neighbor.

  9. Psalm 145:8-9. "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." God's character is the model — gracious, slow to anger, rich in love. See Bible verses about God's love.

  10. Micah 6:8. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Loving mercy / kindness sits next to justice and humility.

  11. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…" Compassion is one of God's names in Paul's greeting. See Comfort Bible verses.

  12. Isaiah 49:13. "…For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Comfort and compassion meet the afflicted — not only the already-strong.

  13. Jude 1:22. "Be merciful to those who doubt…" Compassion reaches people who are unsure, not only people who already agree.

  14. Romans 12:15. "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Shared joy and shared sorrow are compassion's daily forms. See Sympathy Bible verses.

  15. 1 Corinthians 13:4. "Love is patient, love is kind…" Kindness is compassion in action toward people. See Love is patient Bible verse and Bible verses about kindness.

How Jesus showed compassion

When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Compassion in Jesus moves him to act. He does not keep that seeing as a private feeling while the people stay harassed.

Mark 1:41 and Luke 7:13 show the same pattern. He is moved with compassion, and that compassion moves him to touch and to heal. The need he sees and the help he gives stay together.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a hard conversation, a hospital visit, or a habit of coldness — not fifteen. Read it out loud. If you need a clear clothing-list, start with Colossians 3:12. If you need God's character first, start with Lamentations 3:22-23 or Psalm 145:8-9. If you need the essay, read Love and compassion. For kindness and mercy lists, see Bible verses about kindness and Bible verses about mercy. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about compassion?

Colossians 3:12 (clothe yourselves with compassion) and Lamentations 3:22-23 (his compassions never fail) are clear starting places. Matthew 9:36 shows Jesus's compassion for crowded, helpless people.

What does the Bible say about being compassionate?

Scripture treats compassion as something believers put on (Colossians 3:12), practice toward one another (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8), and learn from God's own character (Psalm 145:8-9). See Love and compassion.

How is compassion different from kindness?

They overlap. Compassion often stresses feeling with someone's pain and moving toward it; kindness stresses helpful action and a sweet disposition. Colossians 3:12 lists both. See Bible verses about kindness.

What Bible verse helps when someone is hurting?

Luke 10:33-34 (the Samaritan who took pity and bandaged wounds), Romans 12:15 (mourn with those who mourn), and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (Father of compassion) are often used. See Sympathy Bible verses and Comfort Bible verses.

What does the Bible say about showing compassion to others?

Zechariah 7:9 says to show mercy and compassion to one another. Ephesians 4:32 says to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving as God forgave you. Colossians 3:12 tells God's people to clothe themselves with compassion, and Luke 10:33-34 shows that compassion crossing the road to bandage wounds.

Who in the Bible showed compassion?

Jesus did, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless (Matthew 9:36). The Samaritan in Luke 10:33-34 showed it by taking pity and tending the wounded man. The Lord himself is named for compassion that never fails (Lamentations 3:22-23) and for a father's compassion (Psalm 103:13).

Read Love and compassion, Bible verses about kindness, and Bible verses about mercy. For God's loyal love, see What does hesed mean?.

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