2551. chemlah

Lexical Summary

chemlah: Compassion, Pity, Mercy

Original Word: חֶמְלָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chemlah
Pronunciation: khem-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (khem-law')
KJV: merciful, pity
NASB: compassion, mercy
Word Origin: [from H2550 (חָמַל - spare)]

1. commiseration

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

merciful, pity

From chamal; commiseration -- merciful, pity.

see HEBREW chamal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chamal
Definition
compassion, mercy
NASB Translation
compassion (1), mercy (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[חֶמְלָה] noun feminine compassion, mercy, of ׳י (strictly Infinitive form from חמל, see Ges^{§ 45}, 1 b) — construct עָלָיו ׳בְּחֶמְלַת י Genesis 19:16 (J), בְּאַהֲבָתוֺ וּבְחֶמְלָתוֺ גְאָלָם Isaiah 63:9.

חֻמְלָה see חמל Infinitive above

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Nuances

חֶמְלָה conveys deep, heartfelt compassion that moves one to spare, rescue, or actively care for another. It is never mere sentiment; the word signals mercy expressed in decisive, saving action.

Canonical Occurrences

• Genesis 19:16 – As divine judgment looms over Sodom, “the LORD’s compassion for him” prompts the angels to seize Lot and his family, physically escorting them to safety.
• Isaiah 63:9 – In recalling the Exodus, the prophet testifies that God “redeemed them” in His love and compassion, emphasizing His unwavering, covenantal pity toward Israel.

Theological Themes

1. Deliverance from Judgment: Both passages pair חֶמְלָה with moments of imminent peril, underscoring that God’s compassion is the decisive factor between destruction and salvation (compare Exodus 33:19; Psalm 103:13).
2. Covenant Loyalty: Isaiah 63:9 ties compassion to redemption, showing that divine pity operates within God’s loyal commitment to His people (see Deuteronomy 7:7-8).
3. Divine Initiative: The subjects of חֶמְלָה are passive—Lot trembles, Israel rebels—yet mercy originates in God alone, prefiguring the New Testament truth that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Christological Insights

The Angel of the Presence in Isaiah 63:9 foreshadows the incarnate Son, whose earthly ministry repeatedly mirrors חֶמְלָה in action (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34). Just as Lot was grasped and led out, so believers are “delivered from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) by a greater hand of mercy.

Ministry Implications

• Pastoral Care: Shepherding must reflect active, rescuing compassion, not detached empathy (James 2:16).
• Evangelism: Proclaiming judgment without highlighting divine compassion presents an incomplete gospel; Genesis 19 and Isaiah 63 unite warning with hope.
• Intercession: Prayer appeals to God’s חֶמְלָה, asking Him to spare, restore, and redeem others despite their weakness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

See Also

Mercy (Hebrew רַחֲמִים), Lovingkindness (חֶסֶד), Pity, Deliverance, Redemption, Angel of the LORD

Forms and Transliterations

בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת בחמלת וּבְחֶמְלָת֖וֹ ובחמלתו bə·ḥem·laṯ bechemLat bəḥemlaṯ ū·ḇə·ḥem·lā·ṯōw ūḇəḥemlāṯōw uvechemlaTo

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 19:16
HEB: שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו
NAS: daughters, for the compassion of the LORD
KJV: the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth,
INT: of his two daughters the compassion of the LORD and they

Isaiah 63:9
HEB: הֽוֹשִׁיעָ֔ם בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ וּבְחֶמְלָת֖וֹ ה֣וּא גְאָלָ֑ם
NAS: them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed
KJV: them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed
INT: saved his love his mercy He redeemed

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2551
2 Occurrences

bə·ḥem·laṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḥem·lā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.