Hebrew · H7355, G1653 · unreviewed

רָחַם

To fondle ; by implication, to love , especially to compassionate · to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

רָחַם H7355 to fondle ; by implication, to love , especially to compassionate

Pronunciation rāḥam

Physical tenderness toward the vulnerable grounds God's merciful love—compassion rooted in deep emotional attachment, not abstract duty.

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ἐλεέω G1653 to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace)

Pronunciation eleéō

Compassionate action expressing divine mercy, not mere sentiment; emphasizes concrete assistance.

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What does רָחַם (racham) mean in the Bible?

רָחַם · ἐλεέω is a Hebrew word meaning "to show mercy or tender compassion".

Full entry for רָחַם (H7355, G1653) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to show mercy or tender compassion

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 19×

Imperfect Exod 33:19 · Hos 1:6 · Hos 1:7 · Hos 2:6 · Jer 13:14 · Jer 30:18 · Isa 9:16 · Isa 14:1 · Isa 49:13 · Jer 21:7 · Isa 13:18 · Jer 6:23 · Jer 50:42 · Ps 102:14 · Zech 1:12 15×

Infinitive absolute Hab 3:2 · Jer 31:20 2×

Perfect Ps 103:13 1×

Participle active Ps 116:5 1×

Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 3×

Imperfect Hos 14:4 · Prov 28:13 2×

Perfect Hos 2:3 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 22 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 17 Infinitive absolute 2 Perfect 2 Participle 1

Stem

Piel 19 Pual 3

Mood

Indicative/jussive 11 Indicative/cohortative 6 Indicative 2

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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