"also formed as ἐλεάω 4x, to pity, have compassion on; pass. to receive pity, experience compassion, Mt. 5:7; 9:27; 15:22; to be gracious to any one, show gracious favor and saving mercy towards; pass. to be an object of gracious favor and saving mercy, Rom. 11:30, 31; spc. to obt..."
Definition and meaning
also formed as ἐλεάω 4x, to pity, have compassion on; pass. to receive pity, experience compassion, Mt. 5:7; 9:27; 15:22; to be gracious to any one, show gracious favor and saving mercy towards; pass. to be an object of gracious favor and saving mercy, Rom. 11:30, 31; spc. to obtain pardon and forgiveness, 1 Tim. 1:13, 16
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐλεέω
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 eleeo (G1653) across the King James Bible.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
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Common questions
Strong's G1653 (eleeo) is a Greek word that means: also formed as ἐλεάω 4x, to pity, have compassion on; pass. to receive pity, experience compassion, Mt. 5:7; 9:27; 15:22; to be gracious to any one, show gracious favor and saving mercy towards; pass.... It appears 28 times in the King James Bible.
The word eleeo (G1653) appears 28 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1653 is eleeo, a Greek word defined as: also formed as ἐλεάω 4x, to pity, have compassion on; pass. to receive pity, experience compassion, Mt. 5:7; 9:27; 15:22; to be gracious to any one, s. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
eleeo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.