Being used twelve times, the most common verb used in the Greek New Testament referring to God’s compassion is splanchnizomai. It’s used in Luke 10:33 with the story of the Good Samaritan & the compassion he had on the wounded man. The other eleven uses refer to God’s compassion. In Matthew 18:27 & Luke 15:20 we find two parables of which Jesus used this verb to refer to God’s compassion in saving & forgiving sinners. All of the other uses of this verb refer to compassion as the major motivation for Jesus’ healing & miracles. So nine out of the eleven times where this verb is used of God’s compassion, it is referring to the compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ as his motivation for healing
What is the meaning of splanchnizomai when referring to God’s compassion? The minor form of this word originally alluded to the inner parts of a man (I.e. the heart, liver & so on). It could be used of the inward parts of a sacrificial animal, but became commonly known as the lower parts of the abdomen, the intestines, & especially the womb.
Some theologians have felt this term was too graphic to use in reference to God’s compassion. Using the word for “intestines” to refer to God’s Compassion is ideally parallel to us using the word “guts” for courage in modern English jargon; as to say, “He really has a lot of guts.” However, I think the New Testament writers meant to do exactly this. They were impressing on the readers the power & force of God’s compassion. They may have also had a physical feeling associated with compassion. Sometimes a sharp pain in the abdomen accompanies intense feelings of compassion for those we love. The decision for such a graphic word served to emphasize to the New Testament Christians that God’s compassion for them was rooted in His deep love for them & His sensitivity to their pain.
