Topical Encyclopedia
The term "merciful" in the Bible refers to the quality of showing compassion, forgiveness, and kindness, especially when it is within one's power to punish or harm. This attribute is central to the character of God and is a key aspect of Christian ethics and behavior.
Divine MercyGod's mercy is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, illustrating His compassionate nature towards humanity. In the Old Testament, God's mercy is often linked with His covenantal love for Israel. For instance, in
Exodus 34:6, God proclaims His nature to Moses: "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth." This declaration highlights God's merciful character as foundational to His dealings with His people.
The Psalms frequently celebrate God's mercy, emphasizing its enduring nature.
Psalm 103:8-10 states, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities." Here, the psalmist acknowledges that God's mercy tempers His justice, offering forgiveness and restoration instead of deserved punishment.
Mercy in the Teachings of JesusIn the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies and teaches the principle of mercy. The Beatitudes, found in
Matthew 5:7, declare, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." This statement underscores the reciprocal nature of mercy in the Christian life, where those who extend mercy to others will themselves receive mercy from God.
Jesus' parables often illustrate the importance of mercy. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:25-37) exemplifies mercy through the actions of the Samaritan who cares for a wounded stranger, transcending ethnic and social boundaries. Similarly, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (
Matthew 18:21-35) warns against withholding mercy, as the servant who refuses to forgive a minor debt is ultimately punished for his lack of compassion.
Mercy as a Christian VirtueChristians are called to emulate God's mercy in their interactions with others. The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, frequently exhorts believers to practice mercy. In
Colossians 3:12-13, he writes, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
James also emphasizes the importance of mercy, linking it to judgment: "For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (
James 2:13). This teaching reinforces the idea that mercy is not only a divine attribute but also a necessary quality for those who follow Christ.
Mercy in PracticeThe practice of mercy extends beyond forgiveness to include acts of kindness and charity. Christians are encouraged to care for the needy, support the weak, and show compassion to all, reflecting God's love in tangible ways. The early church exemplified this through communal sharing and support for the poor, as seen in
Acts 2:44-45.
In summary, mercy is a fundamental aspect of God's character and a vital component of Christian living. It calls believers to reflect God's compassion in their relationships, offering forgiveness and kindness as a testament to the transformative power of divine love.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish.
2. (a.) Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MERCY; MERCIFULmur'-si, mur'-si-fool (checedh, racham, chanan; eleos, eleeo, oiktirmos): "Mercy" is a distinctive Bible word characterizing God as revealed to men.
In the Old Testament it is most often the translation of checedh, "kindness," "loving-kindness" (see LOVINGKINDNESS), but rachamim, literally, "bowels" (the sympathetic region), and chanan, "to be inclined to," "to be gracious," are also frequently translated "mercy"; eleos, "kindness," "beneficence," and eleeo, "to show kindness," are the chief words rendering "mercy" in the New Testament; oiktirmos, "pity," "compassion," occurs a few times, also oiktirmon, "pitiful," eleemon, "kind," "compassionate," twice; hileos, "forgiving," and anileos, "not forgiving," "without mercy," once each (Hebrews 8:12James 2:13).
(1) Mercy is
(a) an essential quality of God (Exodus 34:6, 7Deuteronomy 4:31Psalm 62:12, etc.); it is His delight (Micah 7:18, 20Psalm 52:8); He is "the Father of mercies" (2 Corinthians 1:3), "rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4), "full of pity, and merciful" (James 5:11);
(b) it is associated with forgiveness (Exodus 34:7Numbers 14:181 Timothy 1:13, 16);
(c) with His forbearance (Psalm 145:8, "Yahweh is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great lovingkindness"; compareRomans 2:4;Romans 11:32);
(d) with His covenant (1 Kings 8:23Nehemiah 1:5), with His justice (Psalm 101:1), with His faithfulness (Psalm 89:24), with His truth (Psalm 108:4); mercy and truth are united inProverbs 3:3;Proverbs 14:22, etc. (inPsalm 85:10 we have "Mercy and truth are met together");
(e) it goes forth to all (Psalm 145:9, "Yahweh is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works"; compare 145:16, "Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing," the Revised Version margin "satisfiest every living thing with favor");
(f) it shows itself in pitying help (Exodus 3:7Ezra 9:9 f), supremely in Christ and His salvation (Luke 1:50, 54, 58Ephesians 2:4);
(g) it is abundant, practically infinite (Psalm 86:5, 15;Psalm 119:64);
(h) it is everlasting (1 Chronicles 16:34, 41Ezra 3:11Psalm 100:5; 136 repeatedly).
(2) "Mercy" is used of man as well as of God, and is required on man's part toward man and beast (Deuteronomy 25:4Psalm 37:21;Psalm 109:16Proverbs 12:10Daniel 4:27Micah 6:8Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy"; 25:31-46; Luke 6:36, "Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful"; Luke 10:30, the Good Samaritan;Luke 14:12-16James 3:17).
(3) In the New Testament "mercy" (eleos, usually the Septuagint translation of checedh) is associated with "grace" (charis) in the apostolical greetings and elsewhere. Trench points out that the difference between them is that the freeness of God's love is the central point of charis, while eleos has in view misery and its relief; charis is His free grace and gift displayed in the forgiveness of sins-extended to men as they are guilty; His eleos (is extended to them) as they are miserable. The lower creation may be the object of His mercy (eleos), but man alone of His grace (charis); he alone needs it and is capable of receiving it (Synonyms of the New Testament, 163).
(4) From all the foregoing it will be seen that mercy in God is not merely His pardon of offenders, but His attitude to man, and to the world generally, from which His pardoning mercy proceeds. The frequency with which mercy is enjoined on men is specially deserving of notice, with the exclusion of the unmerciful from sonship to the all-merciful Father and from the benefits of His mercifulness. Shakespeare's question, "How canst thou hope for mercy rendering none?" is fully warranted by our Lord's teaching and by Scripture in general; compare especially the parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).
(5) As the rule, the American Standard Revised Version has "lovingkindness" for "mercy" when checedh is used of God, and "kindness" when it is used of men in relation to each other. "Compassion" (translation of racham) is also in several instances substituted for "mercy" (Isaiah 9:17;Isaiah 14:1;Isaiah 27:11Jeremiah 13:14;Jeremiah 30:18), also "goodness" (translation of checedh referring to man) (Hosea 4:1;Hosea 6:6).
W. L. Walker
Greek
3629. oiktirmon --merciful...merciful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oiktirmon Phonetic Spelling:
(oyk-tir'-mone) Short Definition: compassionate,
merciful Definition
...1655. eleemon --merciful
...merciful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eleemon Phonetic Spelling:
(el-eh-ay'-mone) Short Definition: full of pity,merciful Definition: full of...
2436. hileos -- propitious
... Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hileos Phonetic Spelling: (hil'-eh-oce) Short
Definition: propitious, forgiving Definition: propitious, forgiving,merciful....
2433. hilaskomai -- to be propitious, make propitiation for
... Word Origin from the same as hileos Definition to be propitious, make propitiation
for NASB Word Usage make propitiation (1),merciful (1)....
1652. eleeinos -- pitiable
... pitiable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eleeinos Phonetic Spelling:
(el-eh-i-nos') Short Definition:merciful, pitiful Definition:merciful, pitiful...
2155. eusplagchnos -- tenderhearted, compassionate
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eusplagchnos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-splangkh-nos) Short Definition: tender-hearted,merciful Definition: tender...
2815. Klemes -- Clement, a Christian at Philippi
... Clement. Of Latin origin;merciful; Clemes (ie Clemens), a Christian -- Clement.
(klementos) -- 1 Occurrence. 2814, 2815. Klemes. 2816 . Strong's Numbers.
Strong's Hebrew
2616. chacad -- to be good, kind... chacad. 2616a . to be good, kind. Transliteration: chacad Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-sad') Short Definition:
merciful. show self
merciful, put to shame
...7349. rachum -- compassionate
... Word Origin from the same as rechem Definition compassionate NASB Word Usage
compassionate (11),merciful (2). full of compassion,merciful....
3722. kaphar -- to cover over, pacify, make propitiation
... appease, make an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, bemerciful, pacify,
pardon, A primitive root; to cover (specifically with...
2617. checed -- goodness, kindness
... Definition: favour. favor, good deed, kindly, loving-kindness,merciful
kindness, mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing From chacad...
2551. chemlah -- compassion, mercy
... Word Origin from chamal Definition compassion, mercy NASB Word Usage compassion
(1), mercy (1).merciful, pity. From chamal; commiseration --merciful, pity....
2623. chasid -- kind, pious
... ungodly* (1). godly man, good, holy one,merciful, saint, ungodly. From chacad;
properly, kind, ie (religiously) pious (a saint) -- godly...
7355. racham -- to love, have compassion
... compassion (2), surely have mercy (1). have compassion on, upon, love, find,
have, obtain, showmerciful, on,. A primitive root; to fondle...
2603. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious
... ie Move to favor by petition) -- beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able),
be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be)merciful, have (shew...
2617a. chesed -- goodness, kindness
... 7), kindness (32), kindnesses (1), loveliness (1), lovingkindness (176),
lovingkindnesses (7), loyal deeds (1), loyalty (6), mercies (1),merciful (2), mercy (...
Library
TheMerciful
... XXVI THEMERCIFUL. Matthew v.7. Whom does Jesus call the blessed people?... Themerciful
man will get mercy when he needs it." That {68} would not be the truth....
A LastMerciful Warning
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS A LASTMERCIFUL WARNING. 'And the Lord said unto Moses,
Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon...
GodMerciful in Affliction.
... SUBMISSION AND RELIANCE. 631. " GodMerciful in Affliction. 631. LM Bowring.
GodMerciful in Affliction. 1 Mysterious are the...
"'tis Good to beMerciful. "
... PHILANTHROPIC SUBJECTS. 804. " "'Tis good to bemerciful.". 804. LM Miss
Weston. "'Tis good to bemerciful.". 1 'Tis good to weep...
God is not Only SupremelyMerciful, but Also Supremely Just. ...
... Second Head of Doctrine Article 1 God is not only supremelymerciful, but also
supremely just.? God is not only supremelymerciful, but also supremely just....
God'sMerciful Guardianship of his People. --Ps. Xci.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXLV. God'smerciful Guardianship of his People."Ps. xci.... James
Montgomery. God'smerciful Guardianship of his People."Psalm 91.p>....
Is not God Then AlsoMerciful?
... Lord's Day 4 Question 11 Is not God then alsomerciful? Is not God then
alsomerciful? God is indeedmerciful, [36] but also just...
Ci to My MostMerciful, My Most Loving, and Dearly-Loved Redeemer
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CI To my mostmerciful, my most
loving, and dearly-loved REDEEMER. To my mostmerciful, my...
God Just as Well asMerciful; Accordingly, Mercy must not be...
... Chapter II."God Just as Well asMerciful; Accordingly, Mercy Must Not Be
Indiscriminate. "But," say they, "God is good,' and most...
Petilianus Said: "Blessed are theMerciful: for they Shall Obtain...
... Book II. Chapter 67. " 149. Petilianus said: "Blessed are themerciful:
for they shall obtain mercy.? "149. Petilianus said...
Thesaurus
Merciful (53 Occurrences)... unwilling to punish. 2. (a.) Unwilling to give pain; compassionate. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MERCY;
MERCIFUL. mur'-si, mur
...Compassionate (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Having a temper or disposition to pity; sympathetic;
merciful. 2. (a.) Complaining; inviting pity; pitiable....
Mercy (467 Occurrences)
... help. 4. (n.) A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MERCY;MERCIFUL. mur...
Abounding (28 Occurrences)
... Yahweh! Yahweh, amerciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant
in loving kindness and truth, (See NAS RSV NIV). Numbers...
Loyal (15 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). 2 Samuel 22:26 With themerciful you will show yourselfmerciful....
(See NAS). Psalms 18:25 With themerciful you will show yourselfmerciful....
Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD
God,merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth...
Slow (43 Occurrences)
... Yahweh, amerciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving
kindness and truth, (WEB ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Tune (15 Occurrences)
... Bemerciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.... Bemerciful to me,
God, bemerciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you....
Miktam (6 Occurrences)
... Bemerciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.... Bemerciful to me,
God, bemerciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you....
Poem (6 Occurrences)
... Bemerciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.... Bemerciful to me,
God, bemerciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you....
Resources
What does “blessed are the merciful” mean? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is merciful? | GotQuestions.orgHow do God's mercy and justice work together in salvation? | GotQuestions.orgMerciful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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