οἰκτ-ίρμων G3629
merciful, compassionate, showing pity and kindness
Merciful describes one who shows compassion and pity, especially to those in need or distress. Jesus commands, 'Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful' (Luke 6:36, repeated for emphasis). James speaks of the Lord as 'compassionate and merciful' (Jas 5:11). The term emphasizes active compassion, not mere sentiment. Spanish 'compasivo/misericordioso' and French 'compatissant' both highlight the feeling-with-suffering that characterizes mercy.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Merciful, compassionate, characterized by active pity and kindness toward those suffering or in need. Luke 6:36 (stated twice) commands imitating the Father's mercy. James 5:11 attributes this quality to the Lord who vindicates Job. The Greek οἰκτίρμων emphasizes visceral compassion (from οἶκτος, pity). Spanish distinguishes 'compasivo' (compassionate, feeling-with) and 'misericordioso' (merciful, showing mercy), while the Greek term encompasses both emotional compassion and merciful action. 3×
AR["رَؤوفٌ", "رَحيمٌ", "رُحَماءَ"]·ben["করুণাময়", "দয়ালু"]·DE["barmherzig", "οἰκτίρμονες", "οἰκτίρμων"]·EN["merciful"]·FR["compatissant"]·heb["מְרַחֵם", "רַחֲמָנִים", "רַחוּם"]·HI["करुणामय"]·ID["murah-hati", "penyayang."]·IT["compassionevole", "oiktirmōn"]·jav["asih.", "welas-asih"]·KO["자비로우시다.", "자비로운"]·RU["милосерден", "милосерден.", "милосердны"]·ES["compasivo", "compasivos", "misericordioso"]·SW["mwenye-huruma", "mwenye-rehema", "wenye-huruma"]·TR["merhametli,", "merhametlidir", "şefkatli"]·urd["جیسے", "رحیم۔"]
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-ίρμων, ον, genitive ονος, merciful, NT+5th c.BC+