רַחַם (ra.cham)
ra.cham
womb; compassion
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 37 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun racham carries a dual meaning rooted in physical anatomy and deep emotion. It primarily denotes the womb, the seat of life and nurturing care. From this concrete image, the word extends to describe compassion or tender mercy, suggesting that divine love is as intimate and sustaining as maternal care.
Scripture often uses the plural form rachamim to express God’s steadfast kindness. This usage appears frequently in Psalms and Isaiah, where it highlights the Lord’s loyal love for His people. The connection between the womb and mercy implies that God’s compassion is not abstract but visceral, arising from a place of profound internal affection.
Translators typically render this term as "compassion" or "mercy," capturing the emotional weight rather than the literal organ. By linking divine pity to the womb, the text emphasizes that God’s care is generative and protective, reflecting a bond that is both instinctive and enduring.
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 begins with the physical reality of the womb, yet it expands to describe the deepest form of compassion. This connection suggests that God’s mercy is not a distant or abstract concept. Instead, it is as intimate and sustaining as maternal care. When Scripture speaks of God’s rachamim, it points to a love that is visceral, protective, and generative.
For your faith, this means you can trust in a kindness that arises from within God’s very nature. It is not something He manufactures out of obligation. Rather, it flows naturally, much like the bond between a mother and child. This assurance offers stability when life feels uncertain or painful.
You do not need to earn this tender mercy through perfect performance. The biblical witness shows that this compassion meets people in their distress. It invites you to rest in the knowledge that your Creator cares for you with profound, internal affection. This bond is both instinctive and enduring, offering hope that lasts beyond temporary struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 37 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- compassion<s>/ your5×
- compassion<s>/ his5×
- compassion<s>3×
- and/ compassion<s>2×
- a womb2×
- <the>/ compassion<s>2×
- with/ compassion<s>1×
- two wombs1×
- to/ compassion<s>1×
- into/ compassion<s>1×
- into/ [objects of] compassion1×
- in/ compassion<s>/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַחֲמָי/ו֙2×
- רַחֲמֶ֣י/ךָ2×
- רָֽחַם\׃1×
- רָ֥חַם1×
- רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙1×
- רַחֲמָֽי/ו\׃1×
- רַחֲמָ֔י/ו1×
- רַחֲמֶי/הָ֮1×
- רַחֲמֶ֥י/ךָ1×
- רַחֲמֶ֖י/ךָ1×
- רַחֲמֶ֑י/ךָ1×
- רַחֲמִים֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:25
even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.
This verse links divine blessing directly to the womb, grounding God's provision in the image of nurturing life.
-
II Samuel 24:14
David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand, for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
David chooses to fall into God's hands specifically because he trusts the magnitude of His mercies over human judgment.
-
Psalms 103:4
who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
The psalmist describes mercy as a crown, suggesting that God’s compassion adorns and honors the believer's life.
-
Nehemiah 9:27
Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries.
This historical account shows God providing saviors specifically in response to His manifold mercies during times of distress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does racham mean in the Bible?
Why is God's mercy compared to a womb?
How is racham different from other words for mercy?
Every Occurrence (37 verses across 15 books)
Genesis 3 verses
May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am…
Genesis 43:30Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and…
Genesis 49:25even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above,…