Lexical Summary
racham: Mercy, compassion, tender love
Original Word:רַחַם
Part of Speech:noun masculine; feminine; noun masculine; absolute plural intensive
Transliteration:racham
Pronunciation:rah-kham'
Phonetic Spelling:(rakh'-am)
KJV: bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb
NASB:compassion, mercies, mercy, compassions, deeply
Word Origin:[fromH7355 (רָחַם - have compassion)]
1. compassion (in the plural)
2. (by extension) the womb (as cherishing the fetus)
3. (by implication) a maiden
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
tender love, great, tender mercy, pity, womb
Fromracham; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maiden -- bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.
see HEBREWracham
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
rechemDefinitioncompassion
NASB Translationcompassion (30), compassions (1), deeply (1), deeply* (1), mercies (4), mercy (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
,
Hosea 9:14 (
Jeremiah 20:17, unless a noun, compare Albr
ZAW xvi.81 SS); — absolute
Genesis 20:18 +,
Judges 5:30,
Jeremiah 20:17 +,
Genesis 49:25 +; construct
Numbers 12:12;
Job 3:11; suffix
Genesis 29:31 +,
Jeremiah 20:17 (Ges
§ 91e; >f. absolute Kö
ii. 1. 159); dual
Judges 5:30; —
womb,Genesis 49:25 (J)Jeremiah 20:17;Job 24:20; i.e. from birthJeremiah 20:17;Psalm 22:11;Psalm 58:4;Job 3:11 (),Isaiah 46:3, figurativePsalm 110:3;Job 31:15;go forth from womb in birthJeremiah 1:5;Jeremiah 20:18;Job 38:8, compareJob 10:18;Numbers 12:12 (E);open the womb, in order to childbirthGenesis 29:31;Genesis 30:22 (JE);all that first opens womb (of men and animals)Exodus 13:12,15;Exodus 34:19 (J)Numbers 18:15 (P)Ezekiel 20:26;Numbers 3:12 (P),Numbers 8:16;Exodus 13:2 (P); on the other hand,Hosea 9:14miscarrying womb;Proverbs 30:16restraint (i.e. barrenness)of womb (soPsalm 107:36 PerlesAnal. 85); (of God)Genesis 20:18 (E); ()1 Samuel 1:5,6, preventing childbirth.
womb-man, woman-slave:Judges 5:30a woman, two women.
2Samuel 24:14
(according to many denominative from , originallybrotherhood, brotherly feeling, of those born from same womb, see NöZMG xl (1886), 151 (yet see 152) WeGGN 1893, 475 Gerber126, ormotherly feeling Köii. 1, 34); — absoluteGenesis 43:14 +; constructProverbs 12:10; suffixLamentations 3:22 (Baer Gi; van d. H. Qr, Kt ),2 Samuel 24:14 Qr (> Kt ), etc.; —
compassion: usually of GodIsaiah 63:7,15;Psalm 77:10;Psalm 79:8;Psalm 119:77;Zechariah 1:16;Daniel 9:9;Nehemiah 9:28; with2 Samuel 24:14 =1 Chronicles 21:13;Nehemiah 9:19,27,31;Psalm 119:156;Daniel 9:18;Isaiah 54:7; ""Psalm 40:12;Psalm 103:4;Hosea 2:21;Jeremiah 16:5;Psalm 25:6;Psalm 51:3;Psalm 69:17; with of thingPsalm 145:9;Deuteronomy 13:18;Jeremiah 42:12;Lamentations 3:22.
,Amos 1:11;Proverbs 12:10;Zechariah 7:9;Genesis 43:14 (R);1 Kings 8:50;Nehemiah 1:11;Daniel 1:9;Psalm 106:46, compare 2Chronicles 30:9;Isaiah 47:6;Genesis 43:30 (J), with2 Kings 3:26.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Emotional Nuanceרַחַם expresses a visceral, womb-like tenderness that moves one to merciful action. It is never a cold or abstract pity; the word pictures warm parental affection that both feels and does. While often rendered “mercy” or “compassion,” its imagery of the womb links it to life-giving protection and nurture.
Distribution across the Old Testament
Approximately forty-four occurrences are spread through every major section of the Hebrew canon:
• Torah – chiefly in narratives that reveal covenant family loyalties (Genesis 43:30;Deuteronomy 13:17).
• Former Prophets – highlighting merciful judgments (1 Kings 3:26).
• Writings – Psalms and Proverbs employ the word in worship and wisdom (Psalm 51:1;Proverbs 12:10).
• Latter Prophets – concentrated testimony to God’s restorative purpose (Isaiah 54:7;Jeremiah 12:15;Hosea 2:19;Zechariah 7:9).
The pervasive pattern shows compassion as both divine attribute and covenant expectation for Israel.
Divine Compassion: Character of Yahweh
The Lord’s self-revelation inExodus 34:6–7 (“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God…”) becomes the fountainhead from which all later uses of רַחַם flow. When David pleads, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1), he leans upon this foundational declaration. Prophets echo the same assurance: “Though a mother may forget, I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15), implying that divine רַחַם surpasses even maternal instinct.
Human Compassion within Covenant Community
Because Yahweh is compassionate, His people must mirror that compassion. Zechariah commands, “Show loving devotion and compassion to one another” (Zechariah 7:9). The Solomonic judgment between the two women (1 Kings 3:26) portrays true motherhood revealed by רַחַם—she whose “compassion burned for her son” chooses his life over her claim. Such narratives ground social ethics in covenant mercy rather than mere sentiment.
Prophetic Emphasis and Future Hope
Failure to exercise רַחַם invites judgment, yet even judgment serves a compassionate end. After exile the Lord promises, “I will again have compassion on them and bring them back to their own land” (Jeremiah 12:15). Hosea’s marriage metaphor climaxes with promise: “I will betroth you to Me forever … in compassion” (Hosea 2:19). Thus prophetic hope rests on the steady pulse of divine tenderness that refuses to abandon His people.
Liturgical and Poetic Use
Psalms employ רַחַם to celebrate and implore God’s steadfast care.Psalm 103:13 sings, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Such verses shape Israel’s worship, teaching the congregation to link praise, confession, and petition to the Lord’s compassionate nature.
Connections to the New Testament
While רַחַם itself is Hebrew, the concept permeates the Greek Scriptures. The Septuagint often translates it with οἰκτιρμοί (oiktirmoi), carried into the New Testament in texts likeLuke 1:78;Colossians 3:12. The Gospel presentations of Jesus repeatedly portray Him as moved with “compassion” (Matthew 14:14), fulfilling and embodying the Old Testament portrait of divine רַחַם.
Practical Ministry Application
1. Preaching: Emphasize that God’s mercies are both affectionate and active; they initiate salvation and sustain sanctification (Lamentations 3:22–23).
2. Pastoral care: Model womb-like protection for the vulnerable—widows, orphans, refugees—in tangible aid and spiritual nurture.
3. Discipleship: Encourage believers to “clothe yourselves with compassion” (Colossians 3:12) as the visible fruit of regeneration.
4. Missions: Let the certainty of God’s future compassion for the nations energize evangelism (Isaiah 54:7–10).
Reverent reflection on רַחַם therefore deepens confidence in the Lord’s faithful heart and calls the redeemed community to display the same mercy in word and deed.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בְּרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ ברחמיך ברחמים הָֽרַחֲמִֽים׃ הָרַחֲמִ֖ים הרחמים הרחמים׃ וְ֝רַחֲמָ֗יו וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥י וְֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ וְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים וְרַחֲמִֽים׃ וָרָֽחַם׃ וּֽבְרַחֲמִֽים׃ וּֽבְרַחֲמֶ֧יךָ וּֽכְרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ וּֽלְרַחֲמִ֑ים וּבְרַחֲמִ֥ים וברחמיך וברחמים וברחמים׃ וכרחמיך ולרחמים ורחם׃ ורחמי ורחמיו ורחמיך ורחמים ורחמים׃ כְּֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ כְּֽרַחֲמָ֖יו כרחמיו כרחמיך לְרַחֲמִ֑ים לְרַחֲמִ֔ים לְרַחֲמִ֛ים לְרַחֲמִים֙ לרחמים רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ רַ֤חַם רַֽחֲמָ֔יו רַחֲמִ֔ים רַחֲמִ֖ים רַחֲמִים֙ רַחֲמֶ֑יךָ רַחֲמֶ֖יךָ רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ רַחֲמֶ֥יךָ רַחֲמֶיהָ֮ רַחֲמָ֔יו רַחֲמָ֥יו רַחֲמָֽיו׃ רַחֲמָיו֙ רָ֑חַם רָ֥חַם רָֽחַם׃ רחם רחם׃ רחמיה רחמיו רחמיו׃ רחמיך רחמים bə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā bə·ra·ḥă·mîm berachaMeicha berachaMim bəraḥămeḵā bəraḥămîm hā·ra·ḥă·mîm HarachaMim hāraḥămîm kə·ra·ḥă·māw kə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā kerachaMav kerachaMeicha kəraḥămāw kəraḥămeḵā lə·ra·ḥă·mîm lerachaMim ləraḥămîm ra·ḥă·māw ra·ḥă·me·hā ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ra·ḥă·mîm ra·ḥam rā·ḥam Racham rachaMav rachaMeicha rachameiHa rachaMim raḥam rāḥam raḥămāw raḥămehā raḥămeḵā raḥămîm ū·ḇə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ū·ḇə·ra·ḥă·mîm ū·ḵə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā ū·lə·ra·ḥă·mîm ūḇəraḥămeḵā ūḇəraḥămîm ucherachaMeicha ūḵəraḥămeḵā ulerachaMim ūləraḥămîm uverachaMeicha uverachaMim vaRacham verachaMav verachaMei verachaMeicha verachaMim wā·rā·ḥam wārāḥam wə·ra·ḥă·māw wə·ra·ḥă·mê wə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā wə·ra·ḥă·mîm wəraḥămāw wəraḥămê wəraḥămeḵā wəraḥămîm
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