Lexical Summary racham: Mercy, compassion, tender love Original Word: רַחַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tender love, great, tender mercy, pity, wombFrom racham; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maiden -- bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb. see HEBREW racham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as rechem Definition compassion NASB Translation compassion (30), compassions (1), deeply (1), deeply* (1), mercies (4), mercy (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs רֶ֫חֶם, רַ֫הַם noun masculineHosea 9:14 womb (feminine Jeremiah 20:17, unless הֲרַת a noun, compare AlbrZAW xvi.81 SS); — absolute ׳ר Genesis 20:18 +, רַ֫חַם Judges 5:30, רָ֑חֶם Jeremiah 20:17 +, רָ֑חַם Genesis 49:25 +; construct רֶ֫חֶם Numbers 12:12; Job 3:11; suffix רַחְמָהּ Genesis 29:31 +, רַחְמָהֿ Jeremiah 20:17 (Ges§ 91e; >f. absolute Köii. 1. 159); dual רַחֲמָתַיִם Judges 5:30; — 1 womb, Genesis 49:25 (J) Jeremiah 20:17; Job 24:20; מֵרחם i.e. from birth Jeremiah 20:17; Psalm 22:11; Psalm 58:4; Job 3:11 (מִנִּי), Isaiah 46:3, figurative Psalm 110:3; בָּרֶחֶם Job 31:15; ׳יצא מֵר go forth from womb in birth Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 20:18; Job 38:8, compare Job 10:18; אֵם ׳מֵר Numbers 12:12 (E); ׳פתח ר open the womb, in order to childbirth Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:22 (JE); כָּלמֶּֿטֶר רחם all that first opens womb (of men and animals) Exodus 13:12,15; Exodus 34:19 (J) Numbers 18:15 (P) Ezekiel 20:26; ׳פטר ר Numbers 3:12 (P), ׳מִּטְרַת כל ר Numbers 8:16; ׳פטר כל ר Exodus 13:2 (P); on the other hand, מַשִׁכִּיל ׳ר Hosea 9:14 miscarrying womb; ׳עֹצֶר ר Proverbs 30:16 restraint (i.e. barrenness) of womb (so Psalm 107:36 PerlesAnal. 85); ׳עָצַר בְּעַד ר (of God) Genesis 20:18 (E); סָגַר ׳ר (בְּעַד) 1 Samuel 1:5,6, preventing childbirth. 2 womb-man, woman-slave: רַחַם רַחֲמָתַיִם Judges 5:30 a woman, two women. רַחֲמִים noun masculine2Samuel 24:14 absolute plural intensive compassion (according to many denominative from רֶחֶם, originally brotherhood, brotherly feeling, of those born from same womb, see NöZMG xl (1886), 151 (yet see 152) WeGGN 1893, 475 Gerber126, or motherly feeling Köii. 1, 34); — absolute ׳ר Genesis 43:14 +; construct רַחֲמֵי Proverbs 12:10; suffix רַחֲמָיו Lamentations 3:22 (Baer Gi; van d. H. Qr, Kt רחמו), 2 Samuel 24:14 Qr (> Kt רחמו), etc.; — 1 compassion: usually of God Isaiah 63:7,15; Psalm 77:10; Psalm 79:8; Psalm 119:77; Zechariah 1:16; Daniel 9:9; Nehemiah 9:28; with רבים 2 Samuel 24:14 = 1 Chronicles 21:13; Nehemiah 9:19,27,31; Psalm 119:156; Daniel 9:18; גדולים Isaiah 54:7; "" חסד Psalm 40:12; Psalm 103:4; Hosea 2:21; Jeremiah 16:5; חסדים Psalm 25:6; כרֹב רחמיךָ Psalm 51:3; Psalm 69:17; with על of thing Psalm 145:9; ל ׳נתן ר Deuteronomy 13:18; Jeremiah 42:12; ׳לא כלו ר Lamentations 3:22. 2 of man, Amos 1:11; Proverbs 12:10; ׳עשׂה ר Zechariah 7:9; לִפְנֵי ׳ר ׳נָתַן לפ Genesis 43:14 (R); נתן לִפְנֵי ׳לר ׳פ 1 Kings 8:50; Nehemiah 1:11; Daniel 1:9; Psalm 106:46, compare 2Chronicles 30:9; ל ׳שׂם ר Isaiah 47:6; אל ׳נִכְמְרוּ ר Genesis 43:30 (J), with על 2 Kings 3:26. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Emotional Nuance רַחַם expresses a visceral, womb-like tenderness that moves one to merciful action. It is never a cold or abstract pity; the word pictures warm parental affection that both feels and does. While often rendered “mercy” or “compassion,” its imagery of the womb links it to life-giving protection and nurture. Distribution across the Old Testament Approximately forty-four occurrences are spread through every major section of the Hebrew canon: • Torah – chiefly in narratives that reveal covenant family loyalties (Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 13:17). The pervasive pattern shows compassion as both divine attribute and covenant expectation for Israel. Divine Compassion: Character of Yahweh The Lord’s self-revelation in Exodus 34:6–7 (“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God…”) becomes the fountainhead from which all later uses of רַחַם flow. When David pleads, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1), he leans upon this foundational declaration. Prophets echo the same assurance: “Though a mother may forget, I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), implying that divine רַחַם surpasses even maternal instinct. Human Compassion within Covenant Community Because Yahweh is compassionate, His people must mirror that compassion. Zechariah commands, “Show loving devotion and compassion to one another” (Zechariah 7:9). The Solomonic judgment between the two women (1 Kings 3:26) portrays true motherhood revealed by רַחַם—she whose “compassion burned for her son” chooses his life over her claim. Such narratives ground social ethics in covenant mercy rather than mere sentiment. Prophetic Emphasis and Future Hope Failure to exercise רַחַם invites judgment, yet even judgment serves a compassionate end. After exile the Lord promises, “I will again have compassion on them and bring them back to their own land” (Jeremiah 12:15). Hosea’s marriage metaphor climaxes with promise: “I will betroth you to Me forever … in compassion” (Hosea 2:19). Thus prophetic hope rests on the steady pulse of divine tenderness that refuses to abandon His people. Liturgical and Poetic Use Psalms employ רַחַם to celebrate and implore God’s steadfast care. Psalm 103:13 sings, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Such verses shape Israel’s worship, teaching the congregation to link praise, confession, and petition to the Lord’s compassionate nature. Connections to the New Testament While רַחַם itself is Hebrew, the concept permeates the Greek Scriptures. The Septuagint often translates it with οἰκτιρμοί (oiktirmoi), carried into the New Testament in texts like Luke 1:78; Colossians 3:12. The Gospel presentations of Jesus repeatedly portray Him as moved with “compassion” (Matthew 14:14), fulfilling and embodying the Old Testament portrait of divine רַחַם. Practical Ministry Application 1. Preaching: Emphasize that God’s mercies are both affectionate and active; they initiate salvation and sustain sanctification (Lamentations 3:22–23). Reverent reflection on רַחַם therefore deepens confidence in the Lord’s faithful heart and calls the redeemed community to display the same mercy in word and deed. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בְּרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ ברחמיך ברחמים הָֽרַחֲמִֽים׃ הָרַחֲמִ֖ים הרחמים הרחמים׃ וְ֝רַחֲמָ֗יו וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥י וְֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ וְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים וְרַחֲמִֽים׃ וָרָֽחַם׃ וּֽבְרַחֲמִֽים׃ וּֽבְרַחֲמֶ֧יךָ וּֽכְרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ וּֽלְרַחֲמִ֑ים וּבְרַחֲמִ֥ים וברחמיך וברחמים וברחמים׃ וכרחמיך ולרחמים ורחם׃ ורחמי ורחמיו ורחמיך ורחמים ורחמים׃ כְּֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ כְּֽרַחֲמָ֖יו כרחמיו כרחמיך לְרַחֲמִ֑ים לְרַחֲמִ֔ים לְרַחֲמִ֛ים לְרַחֲמִים֙ לרחמים רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ רַ֤חַם רַֽחֲמָ֔יו רַחֲמִ֔ים רַחֲמִ֖ים רַחֲמִים֙ רַחֲמֶ֑יךָ רַחֲמֶ֖יךָ רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ רַחֲמֶ֥יךָ רַחֲמֶיהָ֮ רַחֲמָ֔יו רַחֲמָ֥יו רַחֲמָֽיו׃ רַחֲמָיו֙ רָ֑חַם רָ֥חַם רָֽחַם׃ רחם רחם׃ רחמיה רחמיו רחמיו׃ רחמיך רחמים bə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā bə·ra·ḥă·mîm berachaMeicha berachaMim bəraḥămeḵā bəraḥămîm hā·ra·ḥă·mîm HarachaMim hāraḥămîm kə·ra·ḥă·māw kə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā kerachaMav kerachaMeicha kəraḥămāw kəraḥămeḵā lə·ra·ḥă·mîm lerachaMim ləraḥămîm ra·ḥă·māw ra·ḥă·me·hā ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ra·ḥă·mîm ra·ḥam rā·ḥam Racham rachaMav rachaMeicha rachameiHa rachaMim raḥam rāḥam raḥămāw raḥămehā raḥămeḵā raḥămîm ū·ḇə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ū·ḇə·ra·ḥă·mîm ū·ḵə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ū·lə·ra·ḥă·mîm ūḇəraḥămeḵā ūḇəraḥămîm ucherachaMeicha ūḵəraḥămeḵā ulerachaMim ūləraḥămîm uverachaMeicha uverachaMim vaRacham verachaMav verachaMei verachaMeicha verachaMim wā·rā·ḥam wārāḥam wə·ra·ḥă·māw wə·ra·ḥă·mê wə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā wə·ra·ḥă·mîm wəraḥămāw wəraḥămê wəraḥămeḵā wəraḥămîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 43:14 HEB: יִתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם רַחֲמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ NAS: grant you compassion in the sight KJV: give you mercy before INT: Almighty grant compassion the sight of the man Genesis 43:30 Genesis 49:25 Deuteronomy 13:17 Judges 5:30 2 Samuel 24:14 1 Kings 3:26 1 Kings 8:50 1 Chronicles 21:13 2 Chronicles 30:9 Nehemiah 1:11 Nehemiah 9:19 Nehemiah 9:27 Nehemiah 9:28 Nehemiah 9:31 Psalm 25:6 Psalm 40:11 Psalm 51:1 Psalm 69:16 Psalm 77:9 Psalm 79:8 Psalm 103:4 Psalm 106:46 Psalm 119:77 Psalm 119:156 44 Occurrences |
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