Strong's Lexicon eleos: Mercy, compassion, pity Original Word: ἔλεος Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἐλεέω (eleeō), meaning "to show mercy" or "to have compassion." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H2617 (חֶסֶד, chesed): Often translated as "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love," it conveys a sense of loyalty and covenantal love. - H7356 (רַחַם, racham): Meaning "compassion" or "mercy," it emphasizes a deep emotional response to the needs of others. Usage: In the New Testament, "eleos" refers to the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one's power to punish or harm. It is often used to describe God's mercy towards humanity, as well as the expected mercy believers should show to one another. The term encompasses both the feeling of compassion and the action that results from it. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, mercy was not always considered a virtue, often seen as a weakness. However, in Jewish and Christian thought, mercy is a central attribute of God and a fundamental ethical requirement for His followers. The concept of mercy in the Bible is deeply rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God’s mercy is a response to human sin and suffering. HELPS Word-studies 1656 éleos (translating OT 2617 /kataisxýnō, "covenant-loyalty, covenant-love" in the OT-LXX over 170 times) – properly, "mercy" as it is defined by loyalty to God's covenant. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition mercy, pity, compassion NASB Translation compassion (2), mercy (25). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1656: ἔλεος (1)ἔλεος (1), ἐλέου, ὁ, mercy: that of God toward sinners, Titus 3:5; ἔλεον λαμβάνειν, to receive i. e. experience, Hebrews 4:16; that of men: readiness to help those in trouble, Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7 (from Hosea 6:6); Matthew 23:23. But in all these passages L T Tr WH have adopted the neuter form τό ἔλεος (which see), much more common in Hellenistic writings than the masculine ὁ ἔλεος, which is the only form in classic Greek (Sophocles (Lexicon, under the word) notes ἔλεος in Polybius 1, 88, 2; and Pape in Diodorus Siculus 3, 18 variant). The Greek manuscripts of the O. T. also frequently waver between the two forms. Cf. (WHs Appendix, p. 158); Winers Grammar, 66 (64); Buttmann, 22 (20). STRONGS NT 1656: ἔλεος (2)ἔλεος (2), ἐλέους, τό (a form more common in Hellenistic Greek than the classic ὁ ἔλεος, which see), "mercy; kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them"; 1. of men toward men: Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 23:23 (in these three passages, accusatives to L T Tr WH); James 2:13; James 3:17; ποιεῖν ἔλεος, to exercise the virtue of mercy, show oneself merciful, James 2:13; with the addition of μετά τίνος (in imitation of the very common Hebrew phrase פּ עִם חֶסֶד עָשָׂה, Genesis 21:23; Genesis 24:12; Judges 1:24, etc.; cf. Thiersch, De Pentateuchi vers. Alex., p. 147; (Winer's Grammar, 33 (32); 376 (353))), to show, afford, mercy to one, Luke 10:37. 2. of God toward men; a. universally: Luke 1:50; in benedictions: Galatians 6:16; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; ((probably) Titus 1:4 R L); 2 John 1:3; Jude 1:2. ἐμεγάλυνε κύριος τό ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτῆς, magnified his mercy toward her, i. e. showed distinguished mercy to her (after the Hebrew, see Genesis 19:19), Luke 1:58. b. especially the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ: Luke 1:54; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 2:4; (Titus 3:5 L T Tr WH; Hebrews 4:16 L T Tr WH); 1 Peter 1:3; σπλάγχνα ἐλέους (the genitive of quality (cf. Winers Grammar, 611 (568))), wherein mercy dwells, as we should say, the heart of mercy, Luke 1:78; ποιεῖν ἔλεος μετά τίνος (see 1 above), Luke 1:72; σκεύη ἐλέους, vessels (fitted for the reception) of mercy, i. e. men whom GOd has made fit to obtain salvation through Christ, Romans 9:23; τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ἐληι, by (in consequence of, moved by) the mercy shown you in your conversion to Christ, Romans 11:31 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 22, 7 (cf. § 61, 3 a.); Buttmann, 157 (137)). 3. the mercy of Christ, whereby at his return to judgment he will bless true Christians with eternal life: Jude 1:21; (2 Timothy 1:16, 18 (on the repetition of κύριος in 2 Timothy 1:18 cf. Genesis 19:24; 1 Samuel 3:21; 1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Chronicles 7:2; Genesis 1:27, etc. Winer's Grammar, § 22, 2); but Prof. Grimm understands κύριος here as referring to God; see κύριος, c. α.). (Cf. Trench, § xlvii.; and see ἐληω at the end.) Of uncertain affinity; compassion (human or divine, especially active) -- (+ tender) mercy. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 9:13 N-ANSGRK: τί ἐστιν Ἔλεος θέλω καὶ NAS: I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' KJV: I will have mercy, and INT: what is Mercy I desire and Matthew 12:7 N-ANS Matthew 23:23 N-ANS Luke 1:50 N-NMS Luke 1:54 N-GNS Luke 1:58 N-ANS Luke 1:72 N-ANS Luke 1:78 N-GNS Luke 10:37 N-ANS Romans 9:23 N-GNS Romans 11:31 N-DNS Romans 15:9 N-GNS Galatians 6:16 N-NMS Ephesians 2:4 N-DNS 1 Timothy 1:2 N-NMS 2 Timothy 1:2 N-NMS 2 Timothy 1:16 N-ANS 2 Timothy 1:18 N-ANS Titus 3:5 N-ANS Hebrews 4:16 N-ANS James 2:13 N-ANS James 2:13 N-ANS James 3:17 N-GNS 1 Peter 1:3 N-ANS 2 John 1:3 N-NMS Strong's Greek 1656 |
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