Lexical Summary chus: To pity, to have compassion, to spare Original Word: חוּס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pity, regard, spare A primitive root; properly, to cover, i.e. (figuratively) to compassionate -- pity, regard, spare. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as chum Definition to pity, look upon with compassion NASB Translation concern* (1), had compassion (1), have compassion (3), have pity (1), have...pity (4), looked with pity (1), pity (6), show pity (2), show...pity (1), sorry (1), spare (2), spared (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חוּס] verb pity, look upon with compassion (Aramaic  , חוּס pity, spare; Assyrian —û s, in proper names compare DlPr 181) — Qal Perfect3feminine singular חָסָה Ezekiel 16:5, 2masculine singular חַ֫סְתָּ Jonah 4:10; Imperfect3masculine singular יָחוּס Jeremiah 21:7; יָחֹס Psalm 72:13; 3feminine singular תָּחוּס Isaiah 13:18; תָּהוֺס Deuteronomy 7:16 9t.(Ges§ 72 R 4 Bö§ 1133(2)); תָּחֹס Genesis 45:20; Ezekiel 9:5; וַתָּ֫חָס 1 Samuel 24:11; Ezekiel 20:17; 1singular אָחוּס Jeremiah 13:14 2t.; Imperative חוּ֫סָה Joel 2:17; Nehemiah 13:22: — a. of the eye, עין, (לא) תח(ו)ס על the eye shall (not) look with compassion, pity, upon Deuteronomy 7:16; Deuteronomy 13:9; Deuteronomy 19:13; Isaiah 13:18; Ezekiel 7:4; Ezekiel 20:17; לא חסה עָלַיִךְ עין Ezekiel 16:5; עֵינְכֶם אַלתָּֿחֹס עַלכְּֿלֵיכֶםGenesis 45:20 (RJE) let not your eye look with regret upon your stuff; with ellipsis of עַיִן 1 Samuel 24:11 (but read וָאָחֻס, for וַתָּחָס ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 We Klo Dr); with ellipsis of על Deuteronomy 19:21; Deuteronomy 25:12; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 7:9; Ezekiel 8:18; Ezekiel 9:10; (אל) ע֯ל תחס עיני֯כם Ezekiel 9:5 b. of God חוסה על Nehemiah 13:22; Joel 2:17; לא אחוס על נינוה Jonah 4:11; ellipsis of עַל Jeremiah 13:14; Ezekiel 24:14. c. of man: the Messianic king עלדַּֿל וְאֶבְיוֺן Psalm 72:13 he shall have pity on poor and needy, Nebuchadrezzar עליהם (i.e. on Zedekiah and the people) Jeremiah 21:7; Jonah, על הקיקיון Jonah 4:10. — See also חמל. חוֺףsee below II. חפף. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Emotional Nuance The verb חוּס carries the idea of feeling pity, showing compassion, or sparing someone or something from harm. In Scripture it can denote tender mercy (Psalm 72:13), a calculated decision to withhold deserved punishment (Ezekiel 20:17), or, in the negative, the deliberate refusal to show pity (Deuteronomy 19:13). Whether extended or withheld, the term always belongs to the sphere of moral judgment; it is never mere sentimentality but a response grounded in covenant loyalty and holiness. Occurrences in the Pentateuch Deuteronomy uses the word repeatedly to prohibit pity toward idolatry and unrepentant violence (Deuteronomy 7:16; 13:8; 19:13, 19:21; 25:12). Here the command, “Your eye shall not pity,” protects Israel from compromise. By contrast, Genesis 45:20 shows Pharaoh telling Jacob’s family not to “worry about your belongings, for the best of all Egypt will be yours”. In that setting the verb releases Joseph’s kin from anxiety, illustrating compassion expressed through generous provision. Historical Narrative Usage In 1 Samuel 24:10 David testifies, “I thought to kill you, but I spared you”. David’s restraint toward Saul models righteous compassion that refuses to gain advantage by sinful means. The same impulse motivates Nehemiah’s prayer: “Spare me according to the greatness of Your loving devotion” (Nehemiah 13:22). The word therefore frames both human mercy and appeals for divine mercy within covenant relationships. Psalms and Wisdom Perspective Psalm 72:13, a royal-Messianic psalm, promises that the ideal king “will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed”. Here חוּס is linked to social justice, demonstrating that genuine godliness is compassionate toward the powerless. Prophetic and Exilic Usage Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel employ the verb to announce judgment when the LORD’s forbearance has been exhausted. “My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity” (Ezekiel 7:4) becomes a solemn refrain of the Babylonian crisis. Yet even among these warnings, Ezekiel records a surprising word of restraint: “Yet My eye spared them from destruction” (Ezekiel 20:17). The prophets thus reveal a God who is both just and capable of relenting when repentance appears (Joel 2:17). Minor Prophets and the Universal Horizon Jonah 4:10–11 contrasts Jonah’s pity for a vine with the LORD’s greater concern for an entire city: “Should I not have pity on Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people…?”. The usage here underscores God’s compassionate heart toward the nations, foreshadowing the missionary mandate later made explicit in the New Testament. Theological Themes 1. Holiness and Justice: Unyielding refusal to pity sin preserves covenant purity (Deuteronomy). Practical Ministry Implications • Uphold righteous standards without compromise, yet remain open to Spirit-led compassion toward the repentant. Christological Foreshadowing Romans 8:32 declares, “He who did not spare His own Son…” The Father’s unsparing judgment upon sin at the cross, coupled with boundless mercy toward sinners, fulfills the tension embedded in חוּס throughout the Old Testament. Jesus embodies both the justice that will not pity impenitent evil and the compassion that spares all who repent. Related Terms and New Testament Parallels Greek σπλαγχνίζομαι (to be moved with compassion) reflects similar tenderness (Mark 1:41). James 5:11 extols the Lord as “very compassionate and merciful,” echoing the Hebrew concept. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) vividly displays the Father’s חוּס-like pity. Questions for Reflection • Where might “unsparing” holiness be required in my life or ministry? Forms and Transliterations אָח֔וּס אָח֖וּס אָח֛וּס אחוס וְח֥וּסָה וַתָּ֣חָס וַתָּ֧חָס וחוסה ותחס ח֧וּסָה חַ֙סְתָּ֙ חָ֨סָה חוסה חסה חסת יָ֭חֹס יָח֣וּס יחוס יחס תָּחֹ֖ס תָח֖וֹס תָח֣וֹס תָח֤וֹס תָח֥וֹס תָח֥וּס תָחֹ֥ס תחוס תחס ’ā·ḥūs ’āḥūs aChus Chasah chasta Chusah ḥā·sāh ḥas·tā ḥāsāh ḥastā ḥū·sāh ḥūsāh ṯā·ḥō·ws tā·ḥōs ṯā·ḥōs ṯā·ḥūs taChos taChus tāḥōs ṯāḥōs ṯāḥōws ṯāḥūs vatTachos veChusah wat·tā·ḥās wattāḥās wə·ḥū·sāh wəḥūsāh yā·ḥōs yā·ḥūs Yachos yaChus yāḥōs yāḥūsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 45:20 HEB: וְעֵ֣ינְכֶ֔ם אַל־ תָּחֹ֖ס עַל־ כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם NAS: Do not concern yourselves KJV: Also regard not your stuff; INT: yourselves nay regard with your goods Deuteronomy 7:16 Deuteronomy 13:8 Deuteronomy 19:13 Deuteronomy 19:21 Deuteronomy 25:12 1 Samuel 24:10 Nehemiah 13:22 Psalm 72:13 Isaiah 13:18 Jeremiah 13:14 Jeremiah 21:7 Ezekiel 5:11 Ezekiel 7:4 Ezekiel 7:9 Ezekiel 8:18 Ezekiel 9:10 Ezekiel 16:5 Ezekiel 20:17 Ezekiel 24:14 Joel 2:17 Jonah 4:10 Jonah 4:11 23 Occurrences |
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