רָחַם (ra.cham)
ra.cham
to have compassion
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb racham carries a visceral sense of tender affection, rooted in the word for womb. Its primary meaning is to have compassion or show mercy, but it describes an emotional response that is deeply felt rather than merely intellectual. In the Qal stem, it can simply mean to love, as seen in Psalm 18:2 where God’s love for David is described with this intimate term.
The Piel stem intensifies this into active compassion. This form appears frequently when describing God’s character, such as in Psalm 103:13, where His mercy toward those who fear Him is compared to a father’s pity for his children. It also describes human empathy, as in Proverbs 28:13, which links confessing one’s transgressions with finding mercy.
This word highlights the personal nature of divine grace. Unlike terms that might imply distant judgment, racham suggests a God who is moved by the suffering of His people. The prophet Isaiah uses it to assure Israel that God’s commitment remains steadfast, even when their own faithfulness wavers (Isaiah 54:8). The lexical data shows a consistent pattern where this compassion is both a divine attribute and a human ideal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word racham carries a visceral sense of tender affection, rooted in the word for womb. It describes an emotional response that is deeply felt rather than merely intellectual. When Scripture uses this term, it highlights the personal nature of divine grace. Unlike terms that might imply distant judgment, racham suggests a God who is moved by the suffering of His people.
This compassion is both a divine attribute and a human ideal. In Psalm 103:13, we see this intimacy clearly: "Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him." This image invites us to trust that God’s love is not abstract but grounded in the same deep, protective care found in human family bonds.
Even when faithfulness wavers, this commitment remains steadfast. Isaiah 54:8 assures us that while wrath may hide His face for a moment, everlasting loving kindness will endure. This promise offers hope to those who feel distant or unworthy, reminding us that God’s mercy is rooted in His character, not our performance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will have compassion3×
- and/ I will have compassion on/ them2×
- I will have compassion on2×
- will you have compassion on1×
- to/ have compassion on/ you1×
- to have compassion1×
- they will have mercy1×
- they will have compassion on1×
- they have mercy1×
- surely <have compassion>1×
- so/ he may have compassion on/ him1×
- he will have compassion on/ us1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְרַחֵ֔מוּ3×
- רַחֵ֥ם2×
- תְרַחֵ֣ם1×
- רִחַ֥ם1×
- רִֽחַמְתִּֽי/ךְ\׃1×
- רִֽחַמְתִּ֔י/ם1×
- רִֽחַמְתִּ֑י/ךְ1×
- מֵ/רַחֵ֖ם1×
- מְרַחֵֽם\׃1×
- מְרַחֲמָ֣/ם1×
- מְרַחֲמֵ֖/ךְ1×
- לְ/רַֽחֶמְ/כֶ֑ם1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 103:13
Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
This verse anchors the word's meaning by comparing divine compassion to a father's pity for his children, illustrating its intimate and protective nature.
-
Isaiah 54:8
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.
Here the word contrasts temporary wrath with everlasting mercy, showing that God's compassionate commitment outlasts moments of divine discipline.
-
Jeremiah 31:20
Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I still earnestly remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him. I will surely have mercy on him,” says Yahweh.
God uses this term to describe His heart yearning for Ephraim, demonstrating that compassion involves active remembrance and emotional engagement with His people.
-
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
This occurrence links human confession directly to receiving mercy, showing that racham is the divine response to honest repentance.