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COMFORT, COMFORTER, COMFORTLESS
A. Nouns.
1.
(
$1
, 3874), means “a calling to one’s side” (
, “beside,”
, “to call”); hence, either “an exhortation, or consolation, comfort,” e.g., Luke 2:25
(here “looking for the consolation of Israel” is equivalent to waiting for the coming of the
Messiah); 6:24; Acts 9:31; Rom. 15:4-5; 1 Cor. 14:3, “exhortation”; 2 Cor. 1:3, 4-7; 7:4,
7, 13; 2 Thess. 2:16; Philem. 7. In 2 Thess. 2:16 it combines encouragement with
alleviation of grief. The
RV
changes “consolation” into “comfort,” except in Luke 2:25;
6:24; Acts 15:31; in Heb. 6:18, “encouragement”; in Acts 4:36, “exhortation.”
RV
(
KJV
,
consolation”). See
CONSOLATION
,
ENCOURAGEMENT
,
EXHORTATION
,
INTREATY
.
2.
$
(
$ &
, 3889), primarily “a speaking closely to anyone” (
,
“near,”
$
, “speech”), hence denotes “consolation, comfort,” with a greater degree
of tenderness than No. 1, 1 Cor. 14:3.¶
3.
$
(
$ "
, 3890) has the same meaning as No. 2, the difference
being that
$
stresses the process or progress of the act,
$
the
instrument as used by the agent, Phil. 2:1.¶
4.
(
$ $&
, 3931), primarily “an addressing, address,” hence denotes “a
soothing, solace,” Col. 4:11.¶ A verbal form of the word signifies medicines which allay
irritation (Eng., “paregoric”).
5.
(
$1
, 3875), lit., “called to one’s side,” i.e., to one’s aid, is
primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid. It
was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an
advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another’s cause, an intercessor, advocate, as in
1 John 2:1, of the Lord Jesus. In the widest sense, it signifies a “succorer, comforter.”
Christ was this to His disciples, by the implication of His word “another (
, “another
of the same sort,” not
, “different”) Comforter,” when speaking of the Holy Spirit,
John 14:16. In 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 He calls Him “the Comforter.”¶ “Comforter” or
“Consoler” corresponds to the name “
"
,” given by the Hebrews to the Messiah.
B. Verbs.
1.
(
$
!
, 3870) has the same variety of meanings as Noun, No. 1,
above, e.g., Matt. 2:18; 1 Thess. 3:2, 7; 4:18. In 2 Cor. 13:11, it signifies “to be
comforted” (so the
RV
). See
BESEECH
.
2.
$
(
$
!
, 4837),
$
, “with,” and No. 1, signifies “to
comfort together,” Rom. 1:12.¶
3.
$
(
$ !
, 3888), akin to Noun No. 2, “to soothe, console,
encourage,” is translated, in John 11:31, “comforted”, in v. 19,
RV
, “console.” In 1 Thess.
2:11 and 5:14,
RV
, “encourage,” as the sense there is that of stimulating to the earnest
discharge of duties. See
CONSOLE
,
ENCOURAGE
.¶
4.
$ $
(
' !
, 2174) signifies “to be of good comfort” (
$
, “well,”
$
,
“the soul”), Phil. 2:19.¶