Greek

Propitious/gracious

ἵλεωςStrong’s G2436

hileōs

Appears in 2 verses of the New Testament

In short

Hileōs is the Greek word usually translated “far be it” and “merciful”. It appears in 2 verses of the New Testament.

“Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”

Matthew 16:22 KJV

Meaning

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

How it's translated

far be it 1
merciful 1

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

Where it's used most

Matthew 1
Hebrews 1

2 books in all.

Explore in Scripture

Hebrews 8:12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Greek dictionary

ἵλεως hileōs · propitious/gracious

ἵλεως, -ων (Att.. for ἵλαος), [in LXX for חָלִיל, 1Ki.14:45, 2Ki.20:20, al.; ἵ. εἶναι, סָלַח, 3Ki.8:30 ff. Jer.31:34, al. ;] propitious, merciful: τ. ἀδικίαες, Heb.8:12 (Je, l.with; cf.1 Ki, l.with); ἵ. σοι (sc. ἔστω ὁ θεός), Mat.16:22 (cf. 1Sam, l.with).† (AS)

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

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

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

MER'CIFUL, adjective

[from mercy.]

Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme being.

“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth” Exodus 34:6
Compassionate; tender; unwilling to give pain; not cruel.

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

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.