7349. rachum

Lexicon

rachum: Compassionate, Merciful

Original Word: רַחוּם
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: rachuwm
Pronunciation: ra-khoom'
Phonetic Spelling: (rakh-oom')
Definition: Compassionate, Merciful
Meaning: compassionate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

full of compassion, merciful

From racham; compassionate -- full of compassion, merciful.

see HEBREW racham

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as rechem
Definition
compassionate
NASB Translation
compassionate (11), merciful (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

רַחוּם adjective compassionate; — always of God: אֵל רַחוּם Deuteronomy 4:31, וְחַנּוּן ׳ר Exodus 34:6 (J) = Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; later ׳חַנּוּן ור2Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17,31; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Psalm 111:4; Psalm 112:4; Psalm 145:8; ׳והוא ר Psalm 78:38.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root רָחַם (racham), which means "to have compassion" or "to show mercy."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1655: ἐλεήμων (eleēmōn) • This Greek term is used in the New Testament to describe a merciful or compassionate person, often in the context of God's mercy or the expected behavior of believers.
• G3629: οἰκτίρμων (oiktirmōn) • Another Greek word for compassionate, highlighting a deep sense of pity and mercy, often used to describe God's tender mercies towards humanity.

These Greek terms, like their Hebrew counterpart רַחוּם, emphasize the importance of compassion as a divine attribute and a moral imperative for believers.

Usage: The word רַחוּם is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe God's compassionate nature. It is often paired with other attributes of God, such as graciousness and patience, to emphasize His loving and forgiving character.

Context: רַחוּם (rachum) is a significant term in the Hebrew Bible, frequently used to describe the divine attribute of compassion. This word is often found in contexts where God's mercy and willingness to forgive are highlighted. For instance, in Exodus 34:6, God proclaims His nature to Moses, saying, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth." Here, רַחוּם is part of a self-revelation of God's character, emphasizing His readiness to forgive and His deep empathy towards His creation.

The term is also used in Psalms and the Prophets to remind the Israelites of God's enduring mercy despite their transgressions. In Joel 2:13, the prophet urges the people to return to God, for "He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion." This usage underscores the hope and assurance that God's compassion is a constant and reliable aspect of His relationship with humanity.

רַחוּם is not only a descriptor of God's nature but also serves as a model for human behavior. The expectation is that those who follow God will emulate His compassion in their interactions with others, reflecting His mercy and kindness in their own lives.

Forms and Transliterations

וְרַח֔וּם וְרַח֖וּם וְרַח֛וּם וְרַח֣וּם וְרַחוּם֙ ורחום רַח֖וּם רַח֣וּם רַח֨וּם ׀ רַחוּם֙ רחום ra·ḥūm raChum raḥūm veraChum wə·ra·ḥūm wəraḥūm

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 34:6
HEB: יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ
NAS: God, compassionate and gracious,
KJV: God, merciful and gracious,
INT: the LORD God compassionate and gracious slow

Deuteronomy 4:31
HEB: כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל רַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
NAS: your God is a compassionate God;
KJV: thy God [is] a merciful God;)
INT: for God compassionate the LORD your God

2 Chronicles 30:9
HEB: כִּֽי־ חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם
NAS: is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn
KJV: [is] gracious and merciful, and will not turn away
INT: for is gracious and compassionate the LORD your God

Nehemiah 9:17
HEB: סְלִיח֜וֹת חַנּ֧וּן וְרַח֛וּם אֶֽרֶךְ־ אַפַּ֥יִם
NAS: Gracious and compassionate, Slow
KJV: gracious and merciful, slow
INT: of forgiveness Gracious and compassionate Slow to anger

Nehemiah 9:31
HEB: אֵֽל־ חַנּ֥וּן וְרַח֖וּם אָֽתָּה׃
NAS: them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God.
KJV: them; for thou [art] a gracious and merciful God.
INT: God gracious and compassionate you

Psalm 78:38
HEB: וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֹן֮
NAS: But He, being compassionate, forgave
KJV: But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave
INT: he compassionate forgave iniquity

Psalm 86:15
HEB: אֲ֭דֹנָי אֵל־ רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ
NAS: are a God merciful and gracious,
KJV: [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious,
INT: Lord God merciful and gracious Slow

Psalm 103:8
HEB: רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֣וּן יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
KJV: The LORD [is] merciful and gracious,
INT: is compassionate and gracious the LORD

Psalm 111:4
HEB: לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: is gracious and compassionate.
KJV: [is] gracious and full of compassion.
INT: his wonders is gracious and compassionate the LORD

Psalm 112:4
HEB: לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃
NAS: [He is] gracious and compassionate and righteous.
KJV: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
INT: the upright gracious and compassionate and righteous

Psalm 145:8
HEB: חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָ֑ה אֶ֥רֶךְ
NAS: is gracious and merciful; Slow
KJV: [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow
INT: is gracious and merciful the LORD Slow

Joel 2:13
HEB: כִּֽי־ חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ ה֔וּא אֶ֤רֶךְ
NAS: For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow
KJV: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow
INT: for is gracious and compassionate he Slow

Jonah 4:2
HEB: אֵֽל־ חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֔וּם אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙
NAS: that You are a gracious and compassionate God,
KJV: God, and merciful, slow
INT: God gracious and compassionate slow to anger

13 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7349
13 Occurrences

ra·ḥūm — 5 Occ.
wə·ra·ḥūm — 8 Occ.