Compassion Is A Verb

Many of my regular readers know that I love words. I suppose that is an odd thing for someone to say, but I do. At one time, I thought the only reason for clearly defining our words was so we could communicate with others, but I am learning that clearly defining my words changes the way I think too. My words are the medium I use to form my ideas. I have been pondering the word compassion. Well, I suppose that is not really accurate. The word compassion keeps invading my life.

First, Lori from HaitiNurse4Life featured the video Straton’s Story in one of her recent entries. Straton Gataha, a pastor from Rwanda defines compassion as, “to put your leg’s in someone’s else shoes.”

Then on Sunday, my adult Sunday school class was studying Genesis 43, “May God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man.” (verse 14, NAS) The Hebrew word underlying the English word compassion is racham (Strong’s Number #7356) and means womb. At first I thought that was odd, but as I imagined a mother caring for her child, I realized that the word is a perfect physical picture of a spiritual truth. And, I thought the same idea is communicated by Paul in the New Testament.

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NAS)

As I have thought about this word, I decided Webster made a mistake!

COMPAS’SION, noun [Italian compassione; Spanish compasion; French compassion; Low Latin compassio, compatior; con and patior, passus, to suffer. See Patience.] 1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and by it. Extreme distress of an enemy even changes enmity into at least temporary affection. He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity. Psalm 78. His father had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15. ~ Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Like love, compassion is not a noun; it is an action verb! Oh, Webster does give a hint that this might be true, but even then he gets it wrong. He defines compassion the verb as “to pity” and then says [Not used]. As Straton Gataha so clearly demonstrates, compassion seems to be more than just a mere emotional pricking.

Last, I was reminded of a of the thoughts expressed by a student at the Hebrew University. She was comparing two versions of the Golden Rule:

Hillel	Jesus
What you do not want someone to do to you, do not do to them.	“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. ~ Matthew 7:12 (NAS)

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In Hillel’s version, she observed, the individual must refrain from injuring another. In Jesus’ version, each person is responsible for those who are in need. Doing to others really means that to observe the essence of Torah and the prophets is to feed the hungry, visit the sick, be there for those who are in prison, and care for the needs of those less fortunate. After all, if you were hungry, you would want someone to give you food. ~ Brad H. Young, “Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus”