a pitiless one
| Root | אכזר (ʾ-k-z-r) |
| Core Meanings | cruelty, harshness, pitilessness, fierceness |
| Semantic Range | cruel, ruthless, fierce, savage, merciless, lacking compassion |
| Conceptual Significance | This term characterizes a person who acts without covenantal compassion or mercy, standing in sharp contrast to the divine attribute of רחמים (compassion). In biblical theology, cruelty marks moral corruption and opposition to the covenantal ideal of steadfast love and justice. |
| Morphological Notes | Adjective, masculine singular absolute (HAamsa). Functions attributively or substantivally to describe a single male individual marked by cruelty or harshness. |
| Rendering Rationale | The adjective אַכְזָרִי is masculine singular absolute, describing a person characterized by cruelty. "A pitiless one" preserves the core sense of the root אכזר (harsh, lacking compassion) while clearly reflecting the masculine singular form indicated by the morphology. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)