Lexical Summary anileós: Unmerciful, without mercy Original Word: ἀνιλεής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance without mercy. From a (as a negative particle) and hileos; inexorable -- without mercy. see GREEK a see GREEK hileos HELPS Word-studies 448 aníleōs (from 1 /A, "without" and 2436 /híleōs, "propitious, appeased") – properly, without propitiation (divine appeasement), i.e. without the mercy of God's covenant-loyalty through Christ. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for aneleos, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 448: ἀνίλεωςἀνίλεως, ἀνιλεων, genitive ἀνιλέω (ἵλεως, Attic for ἴλαος), without mercy, merciless: James 2:13 (R G). Found nowhere else (except Herodian, epim. 257). Cf. ἀνέλεος. Topical Lexicon Key New Testament Occurrence“For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” In this solitary New Testament use, ἀνέλεος expresses an utter absence of compassion. James weds the term to a courtroom image, warning believers that a merciless life invites a merciless verdict from God. The verse stands as both threat and promise: divine judgment mirrors the moral quality the believer has extended to others. Semantic Range and Contrast Derived from the common word for mercy (ἔλεος), the negative prefix intensifies the idea: “devoid of mercy,” “pitiless.” Scripture repeatedly opposes such hardness to the covenant expectation that God’s people will imitate His own compassionate character (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8). Canonical Motif: Mercy Versus Mercilessness Old Testament foundation Gospel ethic Apostolic reinforcement Historical Background First-century Judaism prized deeds of mercy (almsgiving, hospitality) as expressions of covenant identity. Early Christian congregations inherited this ethic but grounded it decisively in the atoning work of Christ (Titus 3:5). James addresses assemblies where social stratification threatened that heritage, insisting that favoritism and merciless judgment cannot coexist with genuine faith. Theological Significance 1. Reflection of divine nature God’s self-revelation is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). To act ἀνέλεος is to misrepresent Him. Scripture teaches a measured reciprocity: “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2). James 2:13 applies this maxim to mercy itself. At final judgment, believers rely wholly on Christ’s mercy; persisting in mercilessness denies that reliance (Matthew 25:41-46). Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Congregational life Church discipline, benevolence funds, and interpersonal conflicts must be administered with a bias toward mercy, lest ἀνέλεος attitudes erode gospel witness. Advocacy for the marginalized reflects the opposite of ἀνέλεος. Practical mercy authenticates evangelistic proclamation. Regular contemplation of God’s mercy—in Scripture, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper—guards the heart from becoming merciless. Warnings and Encouragements The lone New Testament appearance of ἀνέλεος gives it striking force: one word, one verse, yet an inescapable summons. Believers are called to embody the triumph of mercy, confident that the God who spared not His own Son will not withhold compassion from those who mirror His heart. Forms and Transliterations ανελεος ἀνέλεος ανίλεως ανιπταμένου aneleos anéleosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance James 2:13 Adj-NFSGRK: γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ KJV: he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed INT: for judgment without mercy [will be] to the [one] not |
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