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ἔλεος

éleos

G1656 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἐλε- to have pity, to show compassion, to provide relief

Definition

Compassionate regard or pity toward someone in distress, leading to acts of help or relief. In various contexts, ἔλεος denotes the feeling or disposition to show mercy, acts expressing such compassion, or the state of being shown mercy. The term encompasses both emotional compassion and practical aid, and incorporates the notion of leniency shown toward those who might otherwise face judgment or hardship, either by humans or attributed to the divine.

Semantic Range

pity, compassion, mercy, leniency, kindness, benevolence, acts of mercy, divine favor, covenantal loving-kindness

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology uncertain. Possibly pre-Greek in origin; there is no clear, convincing derivation from extant Greek verb roots. Ancient etymologies often link it to the verb ἐλεέω (to have mercy), but the verb itself appears to be denominative from the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἔλεος refers primarily to the emotion of pity or compassion aroused by another's misery. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term broadened to signify both the feeling and the action of showing mercy, especially in legal and religious contexts. In the Septuagint, ἔλεος frequently translates Hebrew חֶסֶד (chesed, 'steadfast love' or 'loyalty') and רַחֲמִים (rachamim, 'compassion, mercy'), sometimes shifting the nuance toward benevolence or loving-kindness rather than mere emotional pity. In the New Testament, ἔλεος often denotes divine mercy or compassionate action, both as a human quality and a covenantal attribute of God; it appears as a prominent element in ethical exhortations and liturgical contexts. The standard English rendering, 'mercy', sometimes fails to capture the relational and covenantal aspects carried in Greek and Hebrew contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; compassion (human or divine, especially active):--(+ tender) mercy.

Root Family

ἔλεος (eleos) — pity, compassion, mercy, leniency, benevolent relief

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1656-02 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG mercy compassionate mercy 20
G1656-03 ἐλέους eleous N GEN N SG of mercy of compassion 5
G1656-01 ἐλέει eleei N DAT N SG mercy shows compassion 2

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1656-02 Matthew 9:13 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG compassionate mercy
G1656-02 Matthew 12:7 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG compassionate mercy
G1656-02 Matthew 23:23 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG compassionate mercy
G1656-02 Luke 1:50 ἔλεος eleos N NOM N SG mercy compassionate mercy
G1656-03 Luke 1:54 ἐλέους eleous N GEN N SG of His mercy of compassion
G1656-02 Luke 1:58 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG mercy compassionate mercy
G1656-02 Luke 1:72 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG mercy compassionate mercy
G1656-03 Luke 1:78 ἐλέους eleous N GEN N SG of mercy of compassion
G1656-02 Luke 10:37 ἔλεος eleos N ACC N SG mercy compassionate mercy
G1656-03 Romans 9:23 ἐλέους eleous N GEN N SG of compassion
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