"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
— Romans 12:15 (NIV)
Romans 12:15 is the "weep with those who weep" verse, Paul's short instruction for sharing both joy and grief with other people. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Romans 12, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about grief, Bible verses about compassion, and Bible verses about mourning.
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The verse
The King James reads: "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
"Rejoice" is chairo (G5463), to be glad. "With" is meta (G3326), in company with. "Mourn" (KJV "weep") is klaio (G2799), to weep or cry aloud.
Where it sits in Romans 12
Romans 12 turns from teaching to everyday life. It starts with "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9) and "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). Then comes "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
Right before verse 15, Paul writes, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14). Right after it he says, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position" (Romans 12:16).
What the verse is saying
The verse asks for presence, not answers. When someone is glad, share it without envy. When someone is grieving, sit with them in it instead of hurrying them toward a silver lining.
Jesus did this himself. At Lazarus's tomb, before he raised him, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Paul gives the same picture of the church as one body: "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26). See also Galatians 6:2 and Psalm 34:18.
Questions people ask
What does Romans 12:15 say?
In the NIV it says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." The KJV reads, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
What does "mourn with those who mourn" mean?
It means entering into someone's grief with them. The Greek word klaio means to weep, so the picture is crying alongside a person, not just offering advice from a distance.
Why is it hard to rejoice with those who rejoice?
Another person's good news can stir up envy or remind us of what we lack. Romans 12:10 says to "honor one another above yourselves," which is what sharing someone else's joy looks like.
Is Romans 12:15 a good verse for a sympathy card?
Yes. It is short and it promises presence rather than explaining the loss. For more ideas, see sympathy Bible verses and Bible verses about comfort.
What other verses are like Romans 12:15?
John 11:35 (Jesus wept), 1 Corinthians 12:26 (if one part suffers, every part suffers with it), Galatians 6:2 (carry each other's burdens), and Psalm 34:18 (the Lord is close to the brokenhearted) are close companions.
