Bible Strands
Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus approaches the town gate where a funeral procession is underway and speaks directly to a widow whose only son has just died. He addresses her in the presence of a large crowd as He observes her immediate grief.
The words — The Greek verb ἐσπλαγχνίσθη (esplagchnisthē) literally means He was moved in His innermost parts, denoting a visceral, physical response to her distress. This term grounds the narrative in concrete action before describing His spoken command.
The thread — The text records God’s compassion in response to suffering, matching the patterns found in Psalms 103:13, Isaiah 63:9, and Lamentations 3:32. These passages consistently pair divine mercy with direct intervention in human affliction.
Why it lands — The passage states that Jesus saw her need, felt compassion, and commanded her to stop weeping before performing any miracle. A reader must accept that divine comfort initiates through authoritative presence rather than through gradual consolation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Cross-references
- Psalms 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Lamentations 3:32 Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.
- Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
- Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Jeremiah 31:20 Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.
- Luke 8:52 Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”
- Psalms 86:5 For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
- John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
- Hebrews 2:17 For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.