Strong’s Greek 4036 paints the picture of a grief that surrounds and penetrates a person—an all-encompassing sorrow that cannot be shaken off. It describes an interior weight so heavy that, for the moment, it overshadows every other emotion and perception.

Distribution in the Synoptic Gospels

• Matthew 26:38
• Mark 6:26
• Mark 14:34
• Luke 18:23
• Luke 18:24

The word is never used outside these five verses, and every occurrence appears in a narrative that turns on a decisive moral or redemptive moment.

Narrative Settings and Key Themes

1. Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34) – redemptive anguish.
2. Herod’s banquet (Mark 6:26) – compromised conscience.
3. The rich ruler (Luke 18:23-24) – divided allegiance.

Across these scenes the term signals a crossroads at which either faithfulness to God’s will or bondage to self-interest becomes unmistakably clear.

Christ at Gethsemane: The Perfect Man in Agony

“Then He said to them, ‘My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.’” (Matthew 26:38)

The Gethsemane use stands apart. Jesus, sinless and fully obedient, experiences an encompassing sorrow as He approaches the cup of wrath. The word reveals His genuine humanity: He does not float above suffering but feels it to its depths. At the same time His response—watchful prayer and ultimate submission—models how perfect love faces overwhelming grief. His sorrow is therefore neither despair nor faithlessness; it is the cost of redemptive obedience.

Contrasting Sorrow: Herod’s Regretful Conscience

“The king was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.” (Mark 6:26)

Herod’s distress is real, yet it is bound by pride and political calculation. His grief lies in the collision between conscience and reputation. The term thus illustrates how deep emotion, unaccompanied by repentance, can still result in tragic sin. Herod’s sorrow never rises to godly grief; it becomes the prelude to murder.

The Rich Ruler: Sorrow that Clings to Wealth

“But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.” (Luke 18:23)

“Seeing that he had become very sad, Jesus said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’” (Luke 18:24)

Here the word exposes divided loyalty. Confronted with the demand to relinquish possessions, the ruler feels a grief as heavy as Jesus’ in Gethsemane, yet for an opposite reason: attachment to earthly treasure. Jesus’ comment in verse 24 links the emotional state to spiritual impediment. Sorrow unmixed with surrender becomes a barrier to grace.

Theological Reflections on Deep Grief

1. Universality – From the sinless Christ to a compromised ruler, the term spans the moral spectrum, proving that profound sorrow itself is not sin but can lead either to life or death (compare 2 Corinthians 7:10).
2. Revelation of Heart – Each occurrence exposes what holds ultimate sway: the Father’s will for Jesus, public face for Herod, wealth for the ruler.
3. Invitation to Prayer – Where grief is shared (Gethsemane), disciples are summoned to watch and pray; where grief is isolated (Herod, the ruler), tragic choices follow.

Pastoral and Spiritual Applications

• Authentic Lament – Believers need not fear overwhelming sorrow; the Lord Himself has walked that path.
• Discernment – Persistent sorrow may signal competing allegiances; wise pastoral care probes the underlying attachment.
• Call to Community – Jesus invites companions into His sorrow, modeling mutual burden-bearing (Galatians 6:2).

Historical-Linguistic Note

Classical Greek often uses compound words with perí- (“around”) to intensify an idea. In the New Testament this rare term heightens the sense of grief to an almost enveloping state. Its scarcity underscores how carefully the Gospel writers chose it for pivotal moments.

Connections with Old Testament Lament

The emotion echoes phrases such as “My soul is deeply troubled” (Psalm 6:3) and anticipates the Suffering Servant’s distress (Isaiah 53:3-4). The Gethsemane scene in particular fulfills the prophetic pattern of righteous lament leading to deliverance.

Homiletical Pathways

• “Sorrow at the Crossroads” – compare the three scenes to show how deep grief can yield obedience, compromise, or rejection.
• “Christ’s Empathy in Our Darkest Hour” – Gethsemane assures believers that no sorrow isolates them from a Savior who understands.
• “From Regret to Repentance” – contrast Herod’s and the rich ruler’s sorrow with Peter’s tears (Matthew 26:75) to illustrate godly grief.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4036 captures the heaviest sorrow recorded in the Gospels. Whether in the Savior who will bear sin, a ruler trapped by pride, or a seeker bound by wealth, the term marks the moment when the heart’s true allegiance is unveiled. In pastoral ministry it calls believers to face their grief honestly, surrender every rival master, and enter the fellowship of the One who was “consumed with sorrow” that we might be filled with joy.