G3627 G3627
to have compassion, show mercy or pity toward someone
The emotional response of compassion that moves one to merciful action. Paul uses this verb in quoting God's declaration to Moses: 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, I will have compassion on whom I have compassion' (Romans 9:15, quoted twice). The repetition emphasizes divine sovereignty in mercy—God's compassion is not owed, earned, or predictable by human categories, but flows from His own character and will. The verb captures both the feeling (pity, compassion) and its expression (merciful action).
Senses
1. sense 1 — To feel compassion and show mercy. Classical usage spans from simple pity ('I'm sorry to leave her') to active intervention on behalf of the suffering. Paul's quotation from Exodus 33:19 makes divine compassion the foundation of salvation—not human merit but God's sovereign mercy determines who receives salvation. The future tense underscores God's continued freedom to show mercy. Cross-linguistic consistency (Spanish 'compadecer,' French 'avoir pitié,' German 'erbarmen') captures both emotional and volitional dimensions. 2×
AR["أَتَحَنَّنُ-عَلَى", "أَتَحَنَّنُ-عَلَيْهِ"]·ben["আমি-করুণা-করব", "আমি-করুণা-করি"]·DE["erbarmen"]·EN["I-have-compassion", "I-will-have-compassion"]·FR["avoir-pitié"]·heb["אֲחֹן", "אָחוֹן"]·HI["तरस-खाऊंगा", "तरस-खाता-हूं"]·ID["Aku-akan-berbelas-kasihan", "Aku-berbelas-kasihan"]·IT["avere-pieta"]·jav["Kula-badhé-welas-asih", "Kula-welas-asih."]·KO["긍히-여기는", "내가-긍히-여기리라"]·PT["compadecerei", "me-compadeço."]·RU["пожалею"]·ES["me-compadeceré-de", "me-compadezca"]·SW["ninamwonea-huruma", "nitamwonea-huruma"]·TR["acıyacağım", "acıyorum"]·urd["میں-ترس-کھاؤں-گا", "میں-ترس-کھاؤں۔"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Included with: οἰκτ-ίρω [ῑ] (in codices frequently -ειρ-, but -ῑρ- in early Inscrr., Refs, see entry near the end; compare κατοικτίρω): imperfect ᾤκτ (ε) ιρον Refs 7th c.BC+: future οἰκτῐρῶ Refs 4th c.BC+aorist ᾤκτ (ε) ιρα Refs 8th c.BC+; Ionic dialect οἴκτ (ε) ιρα Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, only present and imperfect NT+8th c.BC+:—pity, have pity upon, with accusative person, Refs 8th c.BC+; οἰ.…