eleos (mercy) · Rightly

Meaning

Usually translated “mercy” and “compassion”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

mercy 23
of mercy 2
of compassion 1
compassion 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Luke 6
Matthew 3
Romans 3
2 Timothy 3
James 2
Jude 2

13 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

1 Timothy 1:2In contextUnto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Titus 3:5In contextNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
2 John 1:3In contextGrace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Jude 1:2In contextMercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Jude 1:21In contextKeep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

All 26 verses, by book

Matthew 3: 9:13 12:7 23:23
Luke 6: 1:50 1:54 1:58 1:72 1:78 10:37
Romans 3: 9:23 11:31 15:9
Galatians 1: 6:16
Ephesians 1: 2:4
1 Timothy 1: 1:2
2 Timothy 3: 1:2 1:16 1:18
Titus 1: 3:5
Hebrews 1: 4:16
James 2: 2:13 3:17
1 Peter 1: 1:3
2 John 1: 1:3
Jude 2: 1:2 1:21

Greek dictionary

ἔλεος eleos · mercy

ἔλεος, -ους, τό (cl. -ου, ὁ, and so Rec., Mat.9:13 12:7 23:23, Tit.3:5, Heb.4:16; on the Hellenistic form τό ἔ., see WH, App., 158; M, Pr., 60; Mayser, 277; Kühner, i, 515), [in LXX chiefly for חֶסֶד ;] mercy, pity, compassion; 1. of men: Mat.9:13 (LXX) Mat.12:7 23:23; ποιεῖν ἔ. (and id. before μετά, with genitive; cf. Heb. עִם חֶסֶד עָשָׂה, Gen.21:23, al.), Luk.10:37, Jas.2:13 3:17. …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “mercy” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

MER'CY, noun

[Latin misericordia.]

That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.“The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty” Numbers 14:18
An act or exercise of mercy or favor.“I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies” Genesis 32:10
Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.“And he said, he that showed mercy on him” Luke 10:37
Clemency and bounty.“Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy” Proverbs 20:28

All definitions

Charity, or the duties of charity and benevolence.“I will have mercy and not sacrifice” Matthew 9:13
Grace; favor. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Jude 1:2
Eternal life, the fruit of mercy 2 Timothy 1:2
Pardon.
The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.