PITY (חָמַל, H2798, to pity, spare [2 Sam 12:6; Jer 13:14; Ezek 5:11]; חוּס, H2571, look on with compassion, pity [Deut 7:16; 13:8; Ezek 16:5]; חָנַנ֒, H2858, show favor, be gracious [Job 19:21; Prov 19:17; 28:7]; רָחַם, H8163, to love, pity [Ps 103:13; Isa 13:18]; ἐλεέω, G1796, to be kind, tender [Matt 18:33]; πολύσπλαγχνός, very tender hearted [Jas 5:11]). See Mercy, Merciful.

1. God’s pity. God pities men as a father pities his children because He knows their weakness (Ps 103:13). Though God pities man for his weakness, yet He does not extend pity to those openly rebellious (Jer 13:14; 15:5; 21:7; Lam 2:17; 3:43).

2. Man’s pity. David judged the rich man in Nathan’s parable to be worthy of death because he had no pity on the poor man (2 Sam 12:6). To show pity on the poor, the Bible says, is to lend to God who repays (Prov 28:27; cf. Matt 10:42).

3. When pity is excluded. Pity was withheld in the OT from: (a) the nations possessing the Promised Land when Israel conquered it (Deut 7:17, 24); (b) from other Israelites if they turned and served other gods (Deut 13:6-11); (c) from those who gave false witness (Deut 19:18-21).