In the biblical context, "comforters" refers to individuals who provide solace, support, and consolation to those who are suffering or in distress. The role of a comforter is significant in Scripture, as it reflects the compassionate nature of God and the call for believers to emulate His love and care for others.

Old Testament Context

The concept of comforters is prominently featured in the Book of Job. Job, a righteous man who experiences profound suffering, is visited by three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—who come to comfort him. Initially, they sit with him in silence, sharing in his grief (Job 2:11-13). However, their subsequent dialogues reveal a failure in their role as comforters. Instead of offering genuine comfort, they accuse Job of wrongdoing, suggesting that his suffering is a result of sin. Job rebukes them, saying, "Miserable comforters are you all!" (Job 16:2). This highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in the ministry of comfort.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Comforter" or "Helper" (Greek: Parakletos), a term used by Jesus in the Gospel of John. Jesus promises His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to guide, teach, and comfort them after His departure: "But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you" (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit's role as Comforter underscores the divine source of true comfort and the presence of God with believers.

Role of Believers as Comforters

Believers are called to be comforters to one another, reflecting God's love and compassion. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in his letters, urging Christians to comfort those in any trouble with the comfort they have received from God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). This passage highlights the reciprocal nature of comfort among believers, rooted in the comfort provided by God.

Practical Aspects of Comforting

The ministry of comfort involves several practical aspects, including presence, empathy, and encouragement. Being present with those who are suffering, as Job's friends initially were, is a powerful form of support. Empathy involves understanding and sharing in the feelings of others, while encouragement provides hope and strength. The Apostle Paul advises believers to "encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11), emphasizing the importance of mutual support within the Christian community.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of comforters serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and empathy in the life of a believer. Whether through the presence of the Holy Spirit or the support of fellow Christians, comfort is a vital expression of God's love and care for His people.5162. nacham -- to be sorry, console oneself
... 1), become a consolation (1), change mind (6), change minds (1), changed mind (4),
comfort (30), comforted (18), comforter (2), comforters (4), comforts (2 ...
/hebrew/5162.htm - 6k

Angelic Comforters.
... XXII. ANGELIC COMFORTERS. The Lord has ascended. The disciples are left
alone in wondering amazement. The bright cloud which formed ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xxii angelic comforters.htm

The Master.
... While her poor earthly comforters are imagining her prostrate at the sepulchre's
mouth, giving vent to the wild delirium of her young grief, she is away, not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/x the master.htm

The Comforter
... Job had comforters, and I think he spoke the truth when he said, "Miserable comforters
are ye all." But I dare say they esteemed themselves wise; and when the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the comforter.htm

The Loftiness of God
... Are you tormented as Job was, over and above all your sorrows, by mistaken kindness,
and comforters in whom is no comfort; who break the bruised reed and ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxix the loftiness of.htm

Philippians ii. 16-Dec
... If the words, "I looked for some to have pity, but there was no man, and for comforters,
but I found none" (Psalm 69:20.), describe intolerable misery, how ...
/.../homily viii philippians ii 16-dec.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... You will find those about you who will commend you if you are prosperous; or
like Job's comforters, condemn you if you suffer adversity. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

The Welcome visitor
... may be. And oh! how promptly she left all other comforters to come to Christ.
There were the Jews that came to comfort her. I dare ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the welcome visitor.htm

That we Ought to Give Ourselves to God with Regard to Things Both ...
... Job's miserable, mistaken, comforters had so deported themselves in their
controversy with Job that God's wrath was kindled against them. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ii that we ought.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... and compassionate tenderness would blunt the edge of his grief; but they had not
long spoken before he cried out in bitterness, "Miserable comforters are ye all ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Christian Sympathy
... Richly did the three miserable comforters deserve the burning rebuke of their slandered
friend, "Ye are forgers of lies, ye are physicians of no value. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

Comforters (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Comforters (5 Occurrences). ... Job 16:2 "I have
heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters! ...
/c/comforters.htm - 8k

Sympathy (15 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/s/sympathy.htm - 12k

Comforter (14 Occurrences)
... John 2:1. In Job 16:2 the active form of the word (parakletos is passive) is found
in the plural, where Job calls his friends "miserable comforters." The word ...
/c/comforter.htm - 14k

Explore (13 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/e/explore.htm - 11k

Paraclete
... The active form of the word is parakletor, not found in the New Testament but found
in Septuagint in Job 16:2 in the plural, and means "comforters," in the ...
/p/paraclete.htm - 17k

Hanun (10 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/h/hanun.htm - 11k

Express (13 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/e/express.htm - 12k

Honoring (3 Occurrences)
... 3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord: 'Thinkest
thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee ...
/h/honoring.htm - 7k

Honors (11 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/h/honors.htm - 9k

Overthrow (48 Occurrences)
... 10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you
think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? ...
/o/overthrow.htm - 21k

Why did Job refer to his friends as miserable comforters? | GotQuestions.org

What was Eliphaz the Temanite's message to Job? | GotQuestions.org

What did Job's three friends have wrong, and what did they have right? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus