ἐλε-ήμων G1655
merciful, compassionate, showing mercy
This adjective describes someone who is merciful or compassionate. Jesus uses it in Matthew 5:7 in the Beatitudes—'Blessed are the merciful'—and Hebrews 2:17 applies it to Christ becoming a merciful high priest. The word emphasizes active compassion and readiness to show mercy. Classical and Septuagintal usage often described God's merciful character, making mercy a divine attribute humans are called to reflect.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Characterizing those who show mercy and compassion, this sense applies both to blessed disciples (Matt 5:7) and to Christ the high priest (Heb 2:17). The Beatitude promises mercy to the merciful, while Hebrews emphasizes Christ's compassionate faithfulness in representing humanity. The consistent translations ('merciful', 'misericordioso', 'miséricordieux', 'barmherzig') reflect the core meaning of active compassion. 2×
AR["رَحيمًا", "لرُّحَمَاءِ"]·ben["করুণাময়", "দয়ালু,"]·DE["barmherzig", "ἐλεήμονες"]·EN["merciful"]·FR["miséricordieux"]·heb["רַחֲמָן", "רַחֲמָנִים"]·HI["दयालु"]·ID["berbelas-kasihan", "yang-murah-hati"]·IT["eleemones", "eleēmōn"]·jav["asih", "ingkang-welasan"]·KO["긍휴-여기는-자들", "자비로운"]·PT["misericordioso", "misericordiosos"]·RU["милостивые", "милостивым"]·ES["misericordioso", "misericordiosos"]·SW["mwenye-huruma", "wenye-huruma"]·TR["merhametli", "merhametlilere"]·urd["رحم-دل", "رحمدل"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐλε-ήμων, ον, genitive ονος, pitiful, merciful, NT+8th c.BC+; of God, LXX+5th c.BC+ adverb -μόνως, condemned by Refs 2nd c.AD+