Greek · Strong's G1656
ἔλεος
éleos (EL-eh-os)
noun, neuter
Active compassion that helps the helpless—God's covenant kindness toward those in need or under judgment.
Eleos is the Septuagint's standard translation of the Hebrew chesed, God's loyal covenant kindness. It is not mere feeling. Eleos is mercy that moves; pity that acts. Where charis (grace) emphasizes unmerited favor, eleos emphasizes compassion in the face of misery, distress, or guilt.
In the Gospels eleos is what the blind, the leprous, and the demonized beg for: "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; Luke 17:13). It is the very heart Jesus accuses the Pharisees of neglecting—"I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13; 12:7, quoting Hosea 6:6)—and the third of the great triad He calls "the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith" (Matthew 23:23). In Luke 1 Mary and Zechariah both sing of God's eleos shown to Abraham and his offspring.
Paul roots salvation itself in mercy: "not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5; cf. Ephesians 2:4; Romans 9:15-16, 23). Because mercy is what we have received, mercy is what we extend: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7); "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).
Common English renderings
- mercy
- compassion
- pity
Key verses
"But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
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"And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him."
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"And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
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"but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,"
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"not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,"
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"For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment."
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