Moved with Compassion
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The Hebrew word translated “compassion,” literally means “bowels.” In Hebrew thought, bowels, or the center part of your body, represented “feelings.” They believed that the tender feelings one has, originated from their bowels.
The Hebrew word is racham. The action of the verb is “to be soft, gentle” and a related noun is the word for womb. The womb surrounds the baby and nurtures and protects it and provides the needs of the baby. The idea is that God’s compassion surrounds us. The baby is cushioned in water and fluid and its needs are supplied. That is the understanding of the phrase, “bowels of compassion.”
Putting it together, bowels mean the tender feeling of compassion.
In our culture, we would say that our feelings come from our heart. We might also say, this is coming from my gut.
Genesis 43:30 KJV:
And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
1 Kings 3:26 KJV:
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
The word racham ends with “m” (mem). The letter mem stands for spiritual life or water. It’s the same in Aramaic.
In the New Testament, whenever Jesus was “moved with compassion,” he saw the need of the people and wanted to provide whatever water they needed.
Mark 1:40–42 KJV:
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
Culturally, this was not done. You don’t touch a leper because if you do, you’ll be unclean for the next seven days! You couldn’t go into the temple, couldn’t worship, couldn’t touch anyone else, and so on.
Mark 6:34 KJV:
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
What kind of water did this crowd need? He taught the people so they could understand.
Luke 7:11–16 KJV:
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier [making him unclean]: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
When we get moved with compassion and something fantastic happens, God gets glorified.
Mark 10:46–50 KJV:
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David [a Messianic title], have mercy [compassion] on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
He threw off his garment means that he threw off his mantle that was basically his license or badge to be a beggar. Culturally, if people gave to a person wearing such a mantle, it was like they were giving to God.
Mark 10:51–52 KJV:
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Philippians 1:8 KJV:
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels [compassion] of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:12 KJV:
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies [compassion], kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Philemon 7, 12, 20 KJV:
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother….
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels…
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Compassion is the total heart involvement of a believer, prompted by the spirit and directed towards the meeting of a particular need.
What kind of water does someone need? Teaching, healing, comfort, encouragement? What is the need? Then that compassion will surround and cushion them.
See Also:
Moved With Compassion on the Acts Now Fellowship website
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