Lexical Summary
chemlah: Compassion, Pity, Mercy
Original Word:חֶמְלָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:chemlah
Pronunciation:khem-LAH
Phonetic Spelling:(khem-law')
KJV: merciful, pity
NASB:compassion, mercy
Word Origin:[fromH2550 (חָמַל - spare)]
1. commiseration
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
merciful, pity
Fromchamal; commiseration -- merciful, pity.
see HEBREWchamal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chamalDefinitioncompassion, mercy
NASB Translationcompassion (1), mercy (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] , of (strictly Infinitive form from , see Ges
§ 45, 1 b) — construct
Genesis 19:16 (J),
Isaiah 63:9.
seeInfinitive above
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Nuancesחֶמְלָה conveys deep, heartfelt compassion that moves one to spare, rescue, or actively care for another. It is never mere sentiment; the word signals mercy expressed in decisive, saving action.
Canonical Occurrences
•Genesis 19:16 – As divine judgment looms over Sodom, “the LORD’s compassion for him” prompts the angels to seize Lot and his family, physically escorting them to safety.
•Isaiah 63:9 – In recalling the Exodus, the prophet testifies that God “redeemed them” in His love and compassion, emphasizing His unwavering, covenantal pity toward Israel.
Theological Themes
1. Deliverance from Judgment: Both passages pair חֶמְלָה with moments of imminent peril, underscoring that God’s compassion is the decisive factor between destruction and salvation (compareExodus 33:19;Psalm 103:13).
2. Covenant Loyalty:Isaiah 63:9 ties compassion to redemption, showing that divine pity operates within God’s loyal commitment to His people (seeDeuteronomy 7:7-8).
3. Divine Initiative: The subjects of חֶמְלָה are passive—Lot trembles, Israel rebels—yet mercy originates in God alone, prefiguring the New Testament truth that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Christological Insights
The Angel of the Presence inIsaiah 63:9 foreshadows the incarnate Son, whose earthly ministry repeatedly mirrors חֶמְלָה in action (Matthew 9:36;Mark 6:34). Just as Lot was grasped and led out, so believers are “delivered from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) by a greater hand of mercy.
Ministry Implications
• Pastoral Care: Shepherding must reflect active, rescuing compassion, not detached empathy (James 2:16).
• Evangelism: Proclaiming judgment without highlighting divine compassion presents an incomplete gospel;Genesis 19 andIsaiah 63 unite warning with hope.
• Intercession: Prayer appeals to God’s חֶמְלָה, asking Him to spare, restore, and redeem others despite their weakness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
See Also
Mercy (Hebrew רַחֲמִים), Lovingkindness (חֶסֶד), Pity, Deliverance, Redemption, Angel of the LORD
Forms and Transliterations
בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת בחמלת וּבְחֶמְלָת֖וֹ ובחמלתו bə·ḥem·laṯ bechemLat bəḥemlaṯ ū·ḇə·ḥem·lā·ṯōw ūḇəḥemlāṯōw uvechemlaTo
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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