1655. eleémón

Lexicon

eleémón: Merciful

Original Word: ἐλεήμων
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: eleémón
Pronunciation: el-eh-ay'-mone
Phonetic Spelling: (el-eh-ay'-mone)
Definition: Merciful
Meaning: full of pity, merciful, compassionate.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

merciful.

From eleeo; compassionate (actively) -- merciful.

see GREEK eleeo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 1655 eleḗmōn – merciful, acting consistently with the revelation of God's covenant. See 1656 (eleos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from eleeó
Definition
merciful
NASB Translation
merciful (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1655: ἐλεήμων

ἐλεήμων, ἐλεημον, merciful: Matthew 5:7; Hebrews 2:17. (From Homer, Odyssey 5, 191 on; the Sept..)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root ἔλεος (eleos), meaning "mercy" or "compassion."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek concept of ἐλεήμων is closely related to several Hebrew terms that convey mercy and compassion, including:

- חֶסֶד (chesed) • Strong's Hebrew 2617: Often translated as "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love," this term reflects God's covenantal mercy and faithfulness.
- רַחוּם (rachum) • Strong's Hebrew 7349: Meaning "compassionate" or "merciful," it describes God's tender mercy towards His people.
- רָחַם (racham) • Strong's Hebrew 7355: A verb meaning "to have compassion" or "to show mercy," often used to describe God's merciful actions.

These Hebrew terms provide a rich background for understanding the New Testament use of ἐλεήμων, highlighting the continuity of the theme of mercy throughout the biblical narrative.

Usage: The word ἐλεήμων is used in the New Testament to describe the character of individuals who exhibit mercy and compassion, reflecting the nature of God. It appears in contexts that emphasize the importance of mercy as a virtue to be cultivated by believers.

Context: The Greek term ἐλεήμων (eleēmōn) is a significant word in the New Testament, encapsulating the Christian virtue of mercy. It is used to describe the quality of being merciful, a trait that is highly esteemed in biblical teaching. This word appears in key passages that highlight the importance of mercy in the life of a believer.

In Matthew 5:7, part of the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Here, ἐλεήμων is used to describe those who actively show compassion and forgiveness to others, promising them divine mercy in return. This reflects the reciprocal nature of mercy in the Christian life, where showing mercy is both a command and a promise of receiving mercy from God.

The concept of mercy is deeply rooted in the character of God, as seen in Luke 6:36, where Jesus instructs, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." This passage underscores the call for believers to emulate God's merciful nature, making ἐλεήμων not just an attribute but a reflection of divine character.

In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus is described as a "merciful and faithful high priest," highlighting His role in mediating between God and humanity with compassion and understanding. This usage of ἐλεήμων emphasizes the compassionate aspect of Christ's priesthood, offering believers a model of mercy that is both divine and attainable.

The virtue of mercy, as encapsulated by ἐλεήμων, is foundational to Christian ethics, encouraging believers to act with kindness, forgiveness, and compassion. It is a call to reflect God's mercy in interpersonal relationships and to embody the love and grace that are central to the gospel message.

Forms and Transliterations

ελεημονες ελεήμονες ἐλεήμονες ελεημων ελεήμων ἐλεήμων eleemon eleēmōn eleḗmon eleḗmōn eleemones eleēmones eleḗmones

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:7 Adj-NMP
GRK: μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες ὅτι αὐτοὶ
NAS: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
KJV: Blessed [are] the merciful: for they
INT: Blessed the merciful for they

Hebrews 2:17 Adj-NMS
GRK: ὁμοιωθῆναι ἵνα ἐλεήμων γένηται καὶ
NAS: that He might become a merciful and faithful
KJV: he might be a merciful and
INT: to be made like that a merciful he might be and

Strong's Greek 1655
2 Occurrences

ἐλεήμων — 1 Occ.
ἐλεήμονες — 1 Occ.