Category: Tenderhearted

Consider Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter 3:8-9a, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling…” Peter’s words are typical of instructions given to God’s people in the New Testament. We are to be loving toward one another. We are to seek peace as we can. We are to treat each other like precious family.

One of the words used here by Peter is “tenderhearted.” It is the Greek word eúsplanchnos. It is translated in the King James version as pitiful. Other translations use tenderhearted or compassionate (though this word is different from the one earlier in the verse “having compassion” which comes from a familiar Greek word sympath?s, from which we get our word sympathetic).

eúsplanchnos has an interesting etymology. It’s primary and original meaning was: having strong bowels. Like our present practice of using the word heart (a muscle) to reference deep emotions and compassion, the Greeks attributed the same to the intestinal tract. It would be similar to us having a “gut feeling”, but primarily referencing strong emotions and sympathies.

So, being pitiful or tenderhearted has reference to the deeply held emotions that Christians should have toward one another. How do you feel toward your brethren?