οἰκτ-ιρμός G3628
Compassion, mercy, tender feelings of pity; deep emotional care expressed as merciful action.
A noun expressing deep compassion and merciful feeling, often appearing in the plural to denote the full range of tender mercies. Paul invokes 'the mercies of God' as the foundation for his ethical appeal in Rom 12:1, and calls the Father 'the God of all compassion' in 2 Cor 1:3. Philippians 2:1 pairs it with love as a motive for unity. The German 'Erbarmen' and French 'compassion' both capture the gut-level sympathy this word conveys, while the Spanish 'misericordias' (mercies) emphasizes its outward expression.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Compassion or mercy — deep, visceral feelings of pity that move one to act mercifully. The plural form (οἰκτιρμοί) appears frequently, suggesting the fullness of compassionate feeling. In Rom 12:1, Paul grounds his entire ethical exhortation in 'the compassions of God' (διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ). Second Corinthians 1:3 names God as 'Father of compassions.' Colossians 3:12 commands believers to 'put on compassions' as a garment. The convergence of German 'Erbarmen,' French 'compassion,' and Spanish 'misericordias' reveals how this word bridges inner feeling and outward mercy. 5×
AR["المَراحِمِ", "رَأْفَةٌ", "رَحمَةٍ", "رَحْمَة", "مَرَاحِمِ"]·ben["করুণা", "করুণাদের,", "করুণার", "দয়া"]·DE["Erbarmen"]·EN["compassions", "mercies", "of-compassion"]·FR["Erbarmen", "compassion"]·heb["חֶמְלָה,", "רַחֲמִים"]·HI["करुणाओं", "करुन", "दय,", "दया", "दया-का"]·ID["belas-kasihan", "kasih sayang", "kemurahan"]·IT["oiktirmoi", "oiktirmou", "oiktirmōn", "pieta"]·jav["kamirahan", "kawelasan", "kawelasan,"]·KO["긍휴,", "긍휴함이", "긍휼의", "자비들", "자비를"]·PT["compaixões", "de-compaixão", "misericórdia", "misericórdias"]·RU["-Бога", "милосердия", "милости", "сострадание", "сострадания"]·ES["compasiones", "de-compasión", "misericordias"]·SW["huruma", "huruma,", "rehema", "ya-huruma"]·TR["merhamet", "merhametin", "merhametleri", "o-"]·urd["رحم", "رحم-کی", "رحمتوں", "رحمتوں-کا"]
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
οἰκτ-ιρμός, ὁ, pity, compassion, Refs 5th c.BC+: plural, compassionate feelings, mercies, NT