רחום

רחום

Hebrew

Etymology

Root
ר־ח־ם‎

From the root ר-ח-מ, referring to maternal compassion. Cognate with Arabic رَحِيم‎ (raḥīm, “merciful”).

Adjective

רַחוּם • (raḥum)

1. merciful, compassionate
   • Exodus 34:6, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     ‏וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהוָה עַל־פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה יְהוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת‎

     Va-ya'avor Adonai 'al panav va-yiqra Adonai Adonai El raḥum v-ḥanun érekh apáyim v-rav ḥésed ve-emet

     And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: ‘The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth

Related terms

• רַחֲמִים‎ (raḥamim)
• הָרַחֲמָן‎ (haraḥaman)
• רֶחֶם‎ (reḥem)

Usage notes

• This adjective is nearly always used to describe God, and thus the feminine and plural forms are very rare.