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Mercy

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G1656

ἔλεος

eleos — mercy

ἔλεος, -ους, τό (cl. -ου, ὁ, and so Rec., Mat.9:13 12:7 23:23, Tit.3:5, Heb.4:16; on the Hellenistic form τό ἔ., see WH, App., 158; M, Pr., 60; Mayser, 277; Kühner, i, 515), [in LXX chiefly for חֶסֶד ;] mercy, pity, compassion; 1. of men: Mat.9:13 (LXX) Mat.12:7 23:23; ποιεῖν ἔ. (and id. before μετά, with genitive; cf. Heb. עִם חֶסֶד עָשָׂה, Gen.21:23, al.), Luk.10:37, Jas.2:13 3:17. 2. Of God: Luk.1:50, 54 1:58, Rom.15:9, Eph.2:4, 2Ti.1:16 1:18, Tit.3:5, Heb.4:16, 1Pe.1:3; esp. in benedictions, Gal.6:16, 1Ti.1:2, 2Ti.1:2, 2Jn.3, Ju 2; σκευὴ ἐλέους, Rom.9:23; σπλάγχνα ἐλέους, Luk.1:78; ποιεῖν ἔ. (see supr.), Luk.1:72; τ. ὑμετέρῳ ἐλέει, Rom.11:31. 3. Of Christ: Ju 21.† SYN.: οἰκτιρμός (see: ἐλεέω) (AS)

26 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2603

חָנַן

cha.nan — be gracious

1) to be gracious, show favour, pity 1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious 1b) (Niphal) to be pitied 1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious 1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on 1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration 1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour

73 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7355

רָחַם

ra.cham — to have compassion

1) to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion 1a) (Qal) to love 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to have compassion, be compassionate 1b1a) of God, man 1c) (Pual) to be shown compassion, be compassionate

42 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1653

ἐλεέω

eleeō — to have mercy

ἐλεέω (in Rom.9:16, Ju 22, -άω, which see), -ῶ (ἔλεος), [in LXX (Hex, Pss, Pr) chiefly for חָנַן, also frequently in Proph. for רָחַם, etc. ;] to have pity or mercy on, to show mercy: absol., Rom.9:16 12:8; with accusative, Mat.9:27 15:22 17:15 18:33 20:30-31, Mrk.5:19 10:47-48, Luk.16:24 17:13 18:38-39 Rom.9:15, 18 11:32, Php.2:27, Ju 22. Pass., to have pity or mercy shown one (EV, obtain mercy): Mat.5:7, Rom.11:30-31, 1Co.7:25, 2Co.4:1, 1Ti.1:13 1:16, 1Pe.2:10.† (AS)

29 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3727

כַּפֹּרֶת

kap.po.ret — mercy seat

1) mercy-seat, place of atonement 1a) the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people 1a1) the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5 by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne of God

22 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1654

ἐλεημοσύνη

eleēmosunē — charity

ἐλεημοσύνη, -ης, ἡ (ἐλεέω), [in LXX chiefly for חֶסֶד, צְדָקָה ;] 1. mercy, pity. 2. almsgiving, alms (like the German Almosen, a corruption of the Greek word ἐ): Mat.6:4; ποιεῖν ἐ., Mat.6:2-3, Act.9:36 10:2 24:17; ἐ. διδόναι, Luk.11:41 (cf. Mat.23:36; Dalman, Words, 62 f.) 12:33; αἰτεῖν, Act.3:2; λαβεῖν, Act.3:3; πρὸς (in order to ask) ἐ., Act.3:10; pl., Act.10:4, 31 (Cremer, 711).† (AS)

13 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1984

ἐπισκοπή

episkopē — oversight

ἐπι-σκοπή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX chiey for פָּקַד פְּקֻדָּה ;] 1. a visiting, visitation (εἰς ἐ. τοῦ παιδός, Lucian, dial. deor., 20, 6); as in LXX (after Heb.), of God's visitation in mercy, or in judgment (Lev.19:20 Job.10:12, Jer.6:15, Wis.2:20, al.): Luk.19:44, 1Pe.2:12 (see Hort, in l). 2. office, charge, esp. office of an ἐπίσκοιος (which see): Act.1:20 (LXX), 1Ti.3:1 (Cremer, 527 f., 864; DCG, ii, 809b).† (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3819

לֹא רֻחָ֫מָה

lo ru.cha.mah — No Mercy

A woman living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Hos.1.6; daughter of: Hosea (H1954J) and Gomer (H1586H); sister of: Jezreel (H3157K), Lo-ammi lo am.mi (לֹא עַמִּי "Not My People" H3818)) § Lo-ruhamah = "no mercy" (Pual) symbolic name given by the prophet Hosea to his daughter

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G415

ἀνελεήμων

aneleēmōn — merciless

ἀν-ελεήμων, -ον (-ἀ, ἐλεήμων), [in LXX for אַכְזָר ;] without mercy: Rom.1:13.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G20590

κατοικτείρω

katoikteirō — to feel compassion

1. to have mercy or compassion on , τινά (Herdotus Historicus), etc. 2. intransitive to feel or shew compassion , (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1136

בֶּן־חֶ֫סֶד

ben-che.sed — Ben-hesed

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.10; son of: Hesed (H2618) § Ben-hesed = "son of mercy" an officer of Solomon

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Mercy in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →