Topical Encyclopedia In the Bible, sighs are often expressions of deep emotion, ranging from sorrow and grief to longing and relief. The act of sighing is a natural human response to various circumstances and is mentioned in several contexts throughout Scripture. Sighs can be seen as a form of non-verbal communication with God, reflecting the inner turmoil or desires of the heart.Old Testament References In the Old Testament, sighing is frequently associated with suffering and oppression. For instance, in Exodus 2:23, the Israelites, under the heavy burden of Egyptian slavery, "groaned and cried out" to God for deliverance. Their sighs were a testament to their affliction and a plea for divine intervention. The Berean Standard Bible states, "After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, and they cried out, and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God." The book of Job also provides insight into the nature of sighs as an expression of personal anguish. Job, in his suffering, speaks of his sighing as a constant companion: "For my sighing comes before my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water" (Job 3:24). Here, sighs are depicted as an involuntary response to intense personal distress. Prophetic Literature In the prophetic books, sighs often symbolize the lamentation over sin and impending judgment. Ezekiel is instructed to "sigh with a broken heart and bitter grief" as a sign to the people of Israel regarding the coming judgment (Ezekiel 21:6-7). This prophetic act serves as a warning and a call to repentance, highlighting the seriousness of their spiritual condition. New Testament Context In the New Testament, sighs continue to convey deep emotional and spiritual realities. Jesus Himself is described as sighing in response to the unbelief and spiritual blindness of the people. In Mark 7:34, before healing a deaf and mute man, Jesus "looked up to heaven and sighed deeply" . This sigh reflects His compassion and the weight of the brokenness He encountered in the world. The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, uses the concept of sighing to describe the groaning of creation and believers as they await redemption. In Romans 8:22-23, Paul writes, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" . Here, sighs are linked to the hope and anticipation of future glory and restoration. Spiritual Significance Sighs in the biblical narrative often serve as a bridge between human frailty and divine strength. They are a reminder of the limitations of human expression and the need for God's intervention. In moments of deep distress or longing, sighs can be seen as a form of prayer, an unspoken cry for help that God hears and understands. As such, they hold a significant place in the spiritual life of believers, reflecting both the reality of human suffering and the hope of divine comfort and deliverance. Library Sighs A Few Sighs from Hell; The Sighs of Christ Seven Sanctified Thoughts and Mournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready ... O Love Divine, My Spirit Sighs Creation's Groans and the Saints' Sighs Introduction Submission. The Torments of Giant Bad Feelings The Sympathy of the Two Worlds Thesaurus Sighs (3 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Sighs (3 Occurrences). Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. ... /s/sighs.htm - 7k Sigh (18 Occurrences) Sighing (22 Occurrences) Groans (9 Occurrences) Grievously (17 Occurrences) Three (5005 Occurrences) Devout (13 Occurrences) Filthy (22 Occurrences) Backward (39 Occurrences) Transgressions (64 Occurrences) Resources Who was John Bunyan? | GotQuestions.orgIs prayer to saints / Mary biblical? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Sighs (3 Occurrences)Romans 8:26 Lamentations 1:8 Lamentations 1:22 Subtopics Related Terms Maid-servants (25 Occurrences) |