What does חָמַל (ḥāmal) mean in the Bible?
חָמַל (ḥāmal): Compassion that moves one to spare or withhold deserved judgment; mercy in action rather than sentiment
Hebrew · H2550
חָמַל
To commiserate ; by implication, to spare
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חָמַלH2550
Pronunciationḥāmal
What does חָמַל (ḥāmal) mean in the Bible?
חָמַל (ḥāmal): Compassion that moves one to spare or withhold deserved judgment; mercy in action rather than sentiment
Full entry for חָמַל (H2550) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2550?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include mercy (5), pity (4), spare (4), . . . (3), compassion (2).
Where does חָמַל (ḥāmal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 2:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (8), Jeremiah (5), 1 Samuel (4), Job (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmercy5×Job 16:13, Job 27:22, Proverbs 6:34, Jeremiah 13:14
pity4×2 Samuel 12:6, Lamentations 2:2, Lamentations 2:17, Lamentations 3:43
spare4×Deuteronomy 13:8, 1 Samuel 15:3, Jeremiah 50:14, Jeremiah 51:3
. . .3×2 Samuel 12:4, Job 6:10, Isaiah 30:14
compassion2×Lamentations 2:21, Zechariah 11:5
spared2×1 Samuel 15:9, 2 Samuel 21:7
will I spare them2×Ezekiel 8:18, Ezekiel 9:10
will I spare you2×Ezekiel 7:4, Ezekiel 7:9
and He spared1×Joel 2:18
And I will spare1×Malachi 3:17
But I had concern1×Ezekiel 36:21
even spares1×Isaiah 9:19
have compassion1×Zechariah 11:6
He had compassion1×2 Chronicles 36:15
or spare anyone1×Ezekiel 9:5
out of compassion1×Ezekiel 16:5
show pity1×Jeremiah 21:7
So she had compassion1×Exodus 2:6
spare you1×Ezekiel 5:11
spares1×Malachi 3:17
sparing1×2 Chronicles 36:17
they spared1×1 Samuel 15:15
though he cannot bear1×Job 20:13
will have pity1×Jeremiah 15:5
you have had compassion1×1 Samuel 23:21
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 2:6וַתַּחְמֹ֣לtoSo she had compassionConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 13:8תַחְמֹ֥לtospareVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1 Samuel 15:3תַחְמֹ֖לtospareVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1 Samuel 15:9וַיַּחְמֹל֩tosparedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 15:15חָמַ֤לtothey sparedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 23:21חֲמַלְתֶּ֖םtoyou have had compassionVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural2 Samuel 12:4וַיַּחְמֹ֗לto. . .Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 12:6חָמָֽל׃topityVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 21:7וַיַּחְמֹ֣לtosparedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 36:15חָמַ֥לtoHe had compassionVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 2:6
Aligned rows41
Books represented15
Exodus1Deuteronomy11 Samuel42 Samuel32 Chronicles2Job4Proverbs1Isaiah2Jeremiah5Lamentations4Ezekiel8Joel1Habakkuk1Zechariah2Malachi2
Source forms
אֶחְמ֑וֹל2x’eḥ·mō·wlEzekiel 7:4, Ezekiel 7:9
אֶחְמֹ֑ל2x’eḥ·mōlEzekiel 8:18, Ezekiel 9:10
יַחְמ֑וֹל2xyaḥ·mō·wlJob 6:10, Job 16:13
יַחְמֹ֣ל2xyaḥ·mōlJob 20:13, Malachi 3:17
יַחְמֹ֑ל2xyaḥ·mōlJob 27:22, Isaiah 30:14
אֶחְמ֧וֹל1x’eḥ·mō·wlJeremiah 13:14
אֶחְמ֥וֹל1x’eḥ·mō·wlZechariah 11:6
אֶחְמֽוֹל׃1x’eḥ·mō·wlEzekiel 5:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular11xJob 6:10, Job 16:13, Job 20:13, Job 27:22
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular7xJeremiah 13:14, Ezekiel 5:11, Ezekiel 7:4, Ezekiel 7:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular6x1 Samuel 15:15, 2 Samuel 12:6, 2 Chronicles 36:15, 2 Chronicles 36:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 15:9, 2 Samuel 12:4, 2 Samuel 21:7, Joel 2:18
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural3xJeremiah 50:14, Jeremiah 51:3, Ezekiel 9:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 13:8, 1 Samuel 15:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xLamentations 2:21, Lamentations 3:43
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xMalachi 3:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Compassion that moves one to spare or withhold deserved judgment; mercy in action rather than sentiment
Strong'sH2550
Lexical occurrences41 versesWord forms1 form33 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkExodus 2:1-10Source Gloss
to commiserate ; by implication, to spare
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Compassion that moves one to spare or withhold deserved judgment; mercy in action rather than sentiment
to commiserate; by implication, to spare BDB: spare Usage: have compassion, (have) pity, spare.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms33
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense33×
ImperfectHab 1:17 · Isa 30:14 · Jer 15:5 · Jer 21:7 · Job 6:10 · Job 16:13 · Job 20:13 · Job 27:22 · Mal 3:17 · Prov 6:34 · Zech 11:5 · Ezek 5:11 · Ezek 7:4 · Ezek 7:9 · Ezek 8:18 · Ezek 9:1022×
Perfect1Sam 15:15 · 2Chr 36:15 · 2Chr 36:17 · 2Sam 12:6 · Lam 2:2 · Lam 2:17 · Lam 2:21 · Lam 3:43 · 1Sam 23:219×
JussiveEzek 9:5 · Jer 50:142×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Pharaoh's daughter has compassion on Hebrew baby Moses, sparing his life from decree
Showing 1 selected witness from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָמַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.