Romans 12 15

Romans 12:15 kjv

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:15 nkjv

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15 niv

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15 esv

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15 nlt

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12 verses

Romans 12 15 Meaning

Romans 12:15 commands believers to fully participate in the emotional experiences of others within the community, sharing both in their joy and their sorrow. It is an exhortation to cultivate deep empathy and solidarity, reflecting authentic Christian love (agape) by identifying personally with the happiness and the grief of fellow members in the body of Christ. This command promotes unity and genuine fellowship by breaking down isolation and fostering mutual connection.

Romans 12 15 Context

Romans 12:15 is situated within Paul's concluding ethical exhortations in the book of Romans, following his extensive theological discourse on salvation by grace through faith (chapters 1-11). Chapters 12-16 provide practical guidance on how believers are to live out their transformed lives in light of God's mercies. The chapter begins with the foundational call to present oneself as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1) and to undergo a spiritual transformation by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2), rather than conforming to the patterns of this world. This transformation manifests in the practical expressions of Christian living.

Paul then moves to discussions of spiritual gifts and the unity of the body of Christ (Rom 12:3-8). Following this, verses 9-21 present a series of characteristics of genuine love (agape) that should define the Christian community. Verse 15 is nestled within this list, which includes instructions to "love with brotherly affection" (v. 10), "outdo one another in showing honor" (v. 10), "contribute to the needs of the saints" (v. 13), and "bless those who persecute you" (v. 14). Specifically, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep" emphasizes the relational and empathetic dimension of true agape love, highlighting shared experience and solidarity as essential to Christian fellowship. Culturally, this counteracts the individualistic tendencies or the Stoic ideal of emotional detachment prevalent in parts of the Roman world, calling for active engagement with the emotional life of one's fellow believers.

Romans 12 15 Word analysis

• Rejoice (χαίρω - chairō): This Greek verb means "to be glad, be well, thrive." It signifies more than just a passive feeling; it implies an active expression of joy or delight. In the New Testament, it often refers to a deep spiritual joy that is not contingent on circumstances (e.g., Php 4:4). Here, it's an imperative, a command to actively participate in the joy of others, to share in their good fortune and happiness. It’s a spiritual discipline.
• with those who rejoice (μετὰ χαιρόντων - meta chairontōn): The preposition meta (with) combined with the genitive case "those who rejoice" indicates an active fellowship, presence, and shared experience. It suggests entering into someone else's happiness, not just observing it from a distance or offering a perfunctory congratulation. This requires humility, overcoming envy, and truly celebrating the blessings bestowed upon another member of the community.
• weep (κλαίω - klaiō): This verb means "to weep, wail, lament." It often suggests an audible and overt expression of grief or sorrow, more intense than a simple shedding of tears. It reflects deep emotional distress or profound sadness. This is also an imperative, commanding action.
• with those who weep (μετὰ κλαιόντων - meta klaiōntōn): Similar to the previous phrase, meta indicates a genuine, shared experience of sorrow. It means actively comforting and mourning alongside someone in their pain, allowing their sorrow to touch one's own heart. This mirrors the biblical pattern of lament and mutual support in suffering found throughout Scripture (e.g., Job's friends). This is an act of deep compassion and solidarity, fulfilling the command to "bear one another's burdens" (Gal 6:2).

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep: This two-part phrase employs a powerful rhetorical parallelism, creating a balanced and memorable instruction. It functions as an ethical maxim for Christian community life. The structure highlights the complete spectrum of human emotion, joy and sorrow, demonstrating that Christian love is holistic and unconditional, embracing every experience. This command underscores the importance of communal unity where members are emotionally invested in each other’s lives, creating a symbiotic relationship. It challenges the believer to overcome natural human tendencies like envy at another's good fortune or detachment from another's pain. This command epitomizes Christ-like empathy and forms a practical foundation for how believers embody the oneness of the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:26).

Romans 12 15 Bonus section

The command in Rom 12:15 is an outworking of the Spirit's transformation in the believer, as it requires a supernatural capacity for selfless identification. It is often more difficult for humans to genuinely rejoice in another's prosperity without a hint of envy than it is to weep with someone in distress (though even the latter can be avoided due to discomfort). This makes the first half of the verse a particularly high bar for Christian maturity. The passage also highlights the organic unity of the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:26), where individual members' experiences are felt by the whole. Such deep empathy mirrors the character of God himself and the example of Jesus, who both rejoiced and wept with humanity (Jn 11:35; Lk 19:41). It demonstrates a life not conformed to worldly self-interest but transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2), reflecting a kingdom ethic.

Romans 12 15 Commentary

Romans 12:15 is a concise yet profound statement on practical Christian love and empathy, acting as a crucial component of Paul's ethical framework for the transformed believer. It's not merely a suggestion for being nice; it is a divine command to actively engage with the full range of human emotions within the community. Sharing joy can be as challenging as sharing sorrow, as it requires genuine selflessness and overcoming potential envy or competition. True rejoicing with others means celebrating their successes and blessings as if they were one's own. Similarly, weeping with those who weep demands compassionate presence and willingness to enter into another's pain, providing comfort without minimizing their suffering. This empathetic identification fosters deep bonds of unity, making the church a true body where members truly care for one another, living out the "mind of Christ" (Php 2:3-5). It showcases love that is sincere (Rom 12:9) and actively lived out, fulfilling the law of Christ to love one's neighbor. Practically, this might involve celebrating milestones enthusiastically, or sitting quietly with a grieving friend, offering presence more than words.