רחום

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Hebrew

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Etymology

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Root
ר־ח־ם (r-kh-m)

From the root ר־ח־ם, referring to maternal compassion. Cognate with Arabic رَحِيم (raḥīm, merciful).

Adjective

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רַחוּם (raḥúm)

  1. merciful, compassionate
    • Tanach, Exodus 34:6, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
      וַיַּעֲבֹר יהוה עַל־פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא יהוה יהוה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת
      Vaya'avór YHVH 'al-panáv vayiqrá YHVH YHVH El raḥúm vəḥannún érech appáyim vərav-ḥésed veemét
      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

Usage notes

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