What does the Bible say about depression?

Few people dispute the presence of depression in the Bible. In fact, it appears in some of the largest figures such as David, Jeremiah, and Elijah—who were each called by God to ministry roles. Depression is a mental illness that oftentimes coexists with other illnesses (e.g., bipolar, post-traumatic stress). While there are several kinds of depressive disorders, the common theme tying them together is the presence of a sad, empty, or irritable mood along with physical and mental changes that collectively affect someone’s ability to function. For someone to be diagnosed as clinically depressed, an individual will experience sadness and emptiness to the degree that it produces physical and mental effects, rendering the person unable to function.

Five (or more) of the following symptoms are present during the same 2-week period:

  • Depressed mood most of the day (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless)

  • Diminished interest in activities

  • Significant weight loss or weight gain

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Anxiousness or restlessness

  • Fatigue or loss of energy

  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate.

  • Recurring thoughts of death

Let’s look at a persons in Scripture who would be diagnosed with this type of depression.

David

Depressed mood most of the day (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart” (Ps.13:3)? “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning” (Ps.31:9-10).

Significant weight loss or weight gain. “All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me” (Ps.22:17).

Difficulty sleeping. “All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes” (Ps.6:6-7).

Anxiousness or restlessness. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest” (Ps.22:1-2). “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me” (v.14). “Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me” (Ps.55:5).

Fatigue or loss of energy. “I am worn out from my groaning” (Ps.6:6)

Recurring thoughts of death. “Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death” (Ps.9:13). “Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death” (Ps.13:3). “The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.” (Ps.18:4-5). “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me” (Ps.55:4).

Elijah (1 Kings 19)

Depressed mood most of the day (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) “…I am no better than my ancestors” (19:4). ““I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (v.10).

Diminished interest in activities. He walked away from his role as a prophet to hide to hide away. “There he went into a cave and spent the night” (19:9).

Significant weight loss, weight gain, or decrease/increase in appetite. ““Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So, he got up and ate and drank” (19:7-8). God had to instruct him to eat.

Difficulty sleeping/sleeping too much. “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep…He ate and drank and then lay down again.” (19:5-6).

Anxiousness or restlessness. “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness” (1 Ki.19:3-4).

Fatigue or loss of energy. “He ate and drank and then lay down again” (19:6).

Recurring thoughts of death. ““I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life” (19:4).



Job

Depressed mood most of the day (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless). “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been impetuous…What strength do I have, that I should still hope” (6:1-3,11)?

Diminished interest in activities. “I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life” (9:21).

Significant weight loss or weight gain. “my whole frame is but a shadow” (17:7). “I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth” (19:20).

Difficulty sleeping. “nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn” (7:3-4). ““When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions” (7:13-14).

Anxiousness or restlessness. “For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water…I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil” (3:24-26). “My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes” (16:16). “Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest” (30:17).

Recurring thoughts of death. ““Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?...For now I would be lying down in peace” (3:11-13). “…I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning” (7:15-16). “ I wish I had died before any eye saw me” (10:18).


Others in Scripture might be: Jeremiah (Jer. 20:14,18; Lamentations) and King Saul (1Samuel 16:14 ff.).