"merciful, pitiful, compassionate, Mt. 5:7; Heb. 2:17*"
Definition and meaning
merciful, pitiful, compassionate, Mt. 5:7; Heb. 2:17*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐλεήμων
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of eleemon (G1655) across the King James Bible.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
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Common questions
Strong's G1655 (eleemon) is a Greek word that means: merciful, pitiful, compassionate, Mt. 5:7; Heb. 2:17* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word eleemon (G1655) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1655 is eleemon, a Greek word defined as: merciful, pitiful, compassionate, Mt. 5:7; Heb. 2:17*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
eleemon is a Greek word found in the New Testament.