STRONGS NT 1653: ἐληωἐληω, ἐλεῶ; future ἐλεήσω; 1 aorist ἠλέησα; passive, 1 aorist ἠλεήθην; 1 future ἐλεηθήσομαι; perfect participle ἠλεημένος; (ἔλεος); from Homer down; the Sept. most frequently for חָנַן to be gracious, also for רִחַם to have mercy; several times for חָמַל to spare, and נִחַם to console; to have mercy on: τινα (Winer's Grammar, § 32, 1 b. α.), to succor one afflicted or seeking aid, Matthew 9:27; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 17:15; Matthew 18:33; Matthew 20:30; Mark 5:19 (here, by zeugma (Winer's Grammar, § 66, 2 e.), the ὅσα is brought over with an adverbial force (Winers Grammar, 463 (431f), how); f; Luke 16:24; Luke 17:13; Luke 18:38; Philippians 2:27; Jude 1:22 Rec.; absolutely to succor the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched (A. V. to show mercy), Romans 12:8; passive to experience (A. V. obtain) mercy, Matthew 5:7. Specifically, of God granting even to the unworthy favor, benefits, opportunities, and particularly salvation by Christ: Romans 9:15, 16 R G (see ἐλεάω), Romans 9:18; Romans 11:32; passive, Romans 11:30; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:13, 16; 1 Peter 2:10. [SYNONYMS: ἐληω, οἰκτείρω: ἐληω, to feel sympathy with the misery of another, especially such sympathy as manifests itself in act, less frequent in word; whereas οἰκτείρω denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. A criminal begs ἔλεος of his judge; but hopeless suffering is often the object of οἰκτιρμός. Schmidt, chapter 143. On the other hand, Fritzsche (Commentary on Romans, vol. ii., p. 315) makes οἰκτείρω and its derivatives the stronger terms: ἐληω, the generic word for the feeling excited by another's misery; οἰκτείρω the same, especially when it calls (or is suited to call) out exclamations and tears.]