RACHAM

"As a father has compassion (racham) on his children, so the LORD has compassion (racham) on those who fear him."

Psalm 103: 13 (Hebrew Bible)

INTRODUCTION

We have all fallen short of God’s glory and have needed to be a recipient of His mercy. Several words in the Hebrew Bible depict the concepts of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Racham is most common and speaks of one showing compassion and mercy by taking action, especially in the context of God showing mercy and His nurturing side to His people. 

HEBREW WORDS FOR MERCY AND COMPASSION (OLD TESTAMENT)

We have all fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3: 23). Every single one of us has sinned at least once and needed to be shown mercy and forgiveness. We all deserve a savior who will love us and receive us as we are. We all need our Messiah, Yeshua. 

Several expressions in the Hebrew Bible convey mercy, love, and compassion. Among them are:

• Racham: To have compassion, to show mercy, to pity.

• Chesed: Loving-kindness, steadfast love, mercy, faithfulness, covenantal loyalty.

• Rachamim: Mercies, compassion (plural form of racham).

• Channun: Gracious, compassionate.

• Nakar: To be kind to, to show favor, to show mercy.

• Ahav: To love, which can imply compassion and care.

RACHAM

The most used and well-known is the word Racham. It means “to have compassion”, “to show mercy”. It conveys or reflects a deep concern for someone else’s suffering. Usually, it depicts God’s displays of mercy and compassion to His people but it can be applied to human interactions.

ROOTS AND DERIVATIONS

The root of racham (ר-ח-מ) is associated with the idea of womb or maternal love. It stems from the concept of the compassion a mother feels for her child and in so evokes the image of a mother's protective, nurturing love. 

CONCEPTS OF COMPASSION 

Racham describes a deep sense of compassion and sympathy that leads a person to action in likeness to God’s compassion which often brings people to deliverance. 

In Jewish theology, God's compassion (racham) is central to His relationship with His people. It points to and emphasizes God’s readiness to forgive. It also depicts God’s nurturing love for His creation, which is especially true when people turn back to Him in repentance.

It also nicely frames the concept of divine mercy being extended toward the undeserving. Among humans, it manifests in acts of kindness and mercy. 

In modern Hebrew, it is often used in the context of forgiveness or understanding and can also evoke the already mentioned maternal bond and the sense of protection and care, which is integral to the word’s meaning pointing to God’s unconditional love He has for His people as a mother has for her child (Isaiah 49: 15). 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Isaiah 49: 15 (NIV)

CONCLUSION 

Several words in the Hebrew Bible convey the concept of mercy and compassion. Among them, Racham is the most well-known. It means “to show compassion, or “to show mercy” and points to one taking action that comes from caring for someone in distress. God's compassion (racham) is central to His relationship with His people and emphasizes God’s readiness to forgive the undeserving. It also depicts God’s nurturing love for His creation, which is especially true when people turn back to Him in repentance.

APPLICATION

Take some time throughout the week and write down some of the times God has shown toward you mercy.