COMFORT (נָחַם, H5714, console; Gr. παράκλησις, G4155; encouragement; παραμυθέομαι, G4170; console: noun, a calling or summons to one’s side, encouragement, consolation and entreaty; verb, to strengthen, morally and spiritually; to encourage, lend moral support; to relieve anxiety; to console one who is in distress.

In the OT the words tr. “comfort” are also tr. “consolation,” “encouragement,” and “exhortation.” Job 9:27 KJV “comfort,” shows how other VSS tr. it. RSV “be of good cheer,” ASVmg. “brighten up.” The Heb. root word gives Nahum (comfort) and Nehemiah (God comforteth). “Comfort in affliction” is through the quickening of “thy Word” (Ps 119:50 ASV). In some cases comfort indicates physical refreshment (Gen 18:5; Judg 19:5, 8; RSV “strengthen your heart”); in others, moral courage through recollecting God’s “judgments” (RSV “ordinances”). The idea of comfort is often that of a change of situation or condition which turns sorrow into rejoicing (cf. Isa 40:1, 2; 49:13; 51:3, 12, 19; 61:2; 66:13).

In the NT the Gr. word most frequently used for “comfort” is paraklesis, which is closely related to one of the titles of the Holy Spirit, παράκλητος, G4156, (Paraclete, one called alongside, cf. John 16:7), the idea being that of one present as a helper. “Comfort” in the NT has a personal and wide application. Christ not only saves from sin but gives relief from present troubles and from distraction about the future (cf. John 14:1, 2; 1 John 4:18).

Comfort is such a multi-faceted idea that many words have been used to interpret and apply it. It describes the blessedness of those who mourn (Matt 5:4), and the blessed state of the one in “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22). In some places, it is tr. “mutually encouraged” (Rom 1:12 RSV), and in Romans 15:4 it suggests inspiration and strength amidst difficulties; while in 1 Corinthians 14:31 “comforted” (KJV), is “exhorted” in ASV and “encouraged” in RSV.

The ministry of comfort involves each Person in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31); God, the Father (2 Cor 1:3, 4); Christ, the Son (2 Cor 1:5; Phil 2:1 “consolation” KJV), who is abundantly qualified to comfort man. His omniscience gives knowledge of man’s deepest needs, and His humanity acquaints with man’s grief. He knows what best meets those needs (cf. Luke 7:13; Heb 2:17, 18; 4:15).

Second Corinthians has been called the “Epistle of Comfort.” Ten times some form of the Gr. word paraklesis is used (2 Cor 1:3-7), which the ASV and RSV uniformly tr. “comfort,” and the KJV, which generally uses “comfort” more often than the RSV, and NEB use both “consolation” and “comfort” in those passages, for the same Gr. word. “Comfort” means more than patient endurance; it means also to be strengthened by the “upholding power” of the Holy Spirit.

The methods by which comfort is given are not always the same, nor are they always apparent. “Comfort” may involve the removal of an affliction or deliverance from some terrible experience, thus producing joy because of “relief” (cf. Acts 20:12, Moffatt; 1 Thess 4:18, KJV). It may be by progress despite discouraging situations (Acts 9:31); or “mutually encouraged” (Rom 1:12 RSV) by what God has done for His children who are to comfort others whether it be by exhortation, consolation, edification, inspiration, or the alleviation of grief, or acute physical needs (cf. Col 4:11; 1 Thess 2:11 ASV; 5:11 RSV).

See Comforter; Consolation; Paraclete.

Bibliography J. Hastings, ed., HDCG, 1 (1924), 341, 342; Arndt and Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon (1957), 622, 623, 626; G. A. Buttrick, ed., IDB, I (1962), 662.