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רַחַם

𐤓𐤇𐤌

racham

H7356 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רָחַם to show compassion, to show mercy, to love tenderly

Definition

A deep feeling of compassion, tenderness, or mercy; an emotional response of care and concern typically arising from an intimate relational bond, such as that between a mother and child. The noun also denotes the womb as the anatomical seat and metaphorical source of such affection. In extended contexts, it can signify tender love, mercy, or pity shown especially toward those in need or suffering.

Semantic Range

womb, seat of compassion, mercy, tender affection, pity, (in plural) deep compassion or tender mercies; by extension, maternal love, emotional center

Root / Etymology

From the root רָחַם (r-ḥ-m), meaning to show compassion, to have mercy, to feel tender affection. The noun derives directly from this root and refers to both the feeling and the physical organ (womb) that metaphorically represents such emotional warmth and care in ancient Hebrew thought.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, רַחַם appears both as a concrete noun ('womb') and abstract noun ('compassion,' 'mercy'). The plural form רַחֲמִים (rachamim) is far more common in the sense of 'compassion' or 'tender mercies,' often appearing in prayers or descriptions of deity. The connection between the womb and compassion reflects a culturally rooted metaphor, emphasizing the nurturing care associated with motherhood. While English translations sometimes render the term as 'bowels,' this reflects earlier English idiom for the seat of emotion and is not anatomically precise. The singular רַחַם for 'womb' is most frequent in narrative and legal texts, while the abstract sense becomes more prominent in poetic and prophetic literature. The term may also refer to the seat of deep inward emotion, as opposed to intellectual or volitional responses. Over time, 'compassion' became the dominant figurative meaning; the association with the womb is retained only in certain contexts. In later Hebrew and in translation traditions, רַחַם is often overshadowed by the plural form or other terms for love and mercy. The English word 'mercy' narrows the sense compared to the depth of intimate, familial care implied in the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָחַם; compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by implication, a maiden; bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רחם (r-ḥ-m) — compassion, tender love, mercy, womb

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3395 יְרֹחָם He-will-be-shown-compassion
H3396 יְרַחְמְאֵל to El-will-show-compassion
H3819 לֹא רֻחָמָה Not-shown-compassion
H7348 רְחוּם Rechum
H7349 רַחוּם compassionate

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7356-10 רַחֲמֶ֣י/ךָ rachameykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your compassions your tender compassions 8
H7356-08 רַחֲמָי/ו֙ rachamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his mercies his tender compassions 6
H7356-11 רַחֲמִים֙ rachamim HNcmpa mercy tender compassions 4
H7356-07 רַ֤חַם racham HNcbsa womb womb-compassion 4
H7356-06 לְ/רַחֲמִ֛ים lerachamim HR/Ncmpa compassion to tender compassions 4
H7356-03 הָֽ/רַחֲמִֽים harachamim HTd/Ncmpa the compassions the tender compassions 2
H7356-16 וּ/בְ/רַחֲמִ֥ים uverachamim HC/R/Ncmpa and in mercies tender compassions 2
H7356-21 וְ/רַֽחֲמִ֔ים verachamim HC/Ncmpa and compassions and tender compassions 2
H7356-01 בְּ/רַחֲמֶ֣י/ךָ berachameykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms in-your-compassions in your tender compassions 1
H7356-09 רַחֲמֶי/הָ֮ rachameyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her compassions her tender compassions 1

Occurrences in Scripture

45 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7356-11 Genesis 43:14 רַחֲמִים֙ rachamim HNcmpa mercy tender compassions
H7356-08 Genesis 43:30 רַחֲמָי/ו֙ rachamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his compassion his tender compassions
H7356-17 Genesis 49:25 וָ/רָֽחַם varacham HC/Ncbsa and womb and womb-compassion
H7356-11 Deuteronomy 13:18 רַחֲמִים֙ rachamim HNcmpa mercy tender compassions
H7356-07 Judges 5:30 רַ֤חַם racham HNcbsa a maiden womb-compassion
H7356-12 2 Samuel 24:14 רחמ/ו rchmv HNcmsc/Sp3ms his mercies his womb-compassion
H7356-08 2 Samuel 24:14 רַֽחֲמָ֔י/ו rachamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his compassions his tender compassions
H7356-09 1 Kings 3:26 רַחֲמֶי/הָ֮ rachameyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her compassions her tender compassions
H7356-06 1 Kings 8:50 לְ/רַחֲמִ֛ים lerachamim HR/Ncmpa compassion to tender compassions
H7356-07 Isaiah 46:3 רָֽחַם racham HNcbsa the womb womb-compassion
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