חוּס
𐤇𐤅𐤎
chûwç
H2347 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To have compassion or show mercy, to feel pity or empathetic regard for someone, often expressed through acts of sparing or refraining from harm. The term may also connote restraint from action out of regard or concern for the well-being of another. In poetic or idiomatic registers, it can suggest a deep, protective affection that leads to restraint or mercy.
Semantic Range
to have compassion, to show pity, to regard with emotional restraint, to spare or forbear destruction, to show empathetic concern, to save from harm, to refrain from acting harshly
Root / Etymology
From the root חוס (ח-ו-ס), meaning 'to have compassion' or 'to spare.' The root conveys the idea of showing benevolence or forbearance, leading to actions that preserve or protect. While the root's original concrete image is uncertain, it does not directly involve 'covering' in the physical sense despite early glosses, but rather restraining destructive action out of concern for another's condition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, חוּס appears in narratives, poetry, and prophetic literature to express an emotional stance of compassion, often with a focus on God's sparing of individuals or peoples (e.g., Jonah 4:11, 'should I not spare Nineveh…?'). It can also describe human mercy (e.g., feeling pity for livestock, or showing clemency in battle). The term differs from related words such as חָנַן (to be gracious) or רָחַם (to show tender mercy), in that חוּס accentuates the emotional restraint from harm or destruction based on pity. English translations as 'spare,' 'pity,' or 'have compassion' often depend on context, but can sometimes narrow the nuance by not fully conveying the internal feeling of empathetic restraint present in the Hebrew. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the concept continues but can merge with general terms for mercy or compassion. The English term 'compassion' overlaps but does not always capture the specific sense of forbearance or the act of sparing. In no cases does חוּס imply legal justification or forgiveness per se; it is distinguished by its emphasis on emotional response leading to merciful action.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to cover, i.e. (figuratively) to compassionate; pity, regard, spare.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חוס (ḥ-w-s) — to have compassion, to pity, to spare, to show mercy
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2347-05 |
תָּחֹ֖ס | tachos | HVqj3fs |
will spare | may she spare | 12 |
H2347-01 |
אָח֛וּס | achus | HVqi1cs |
will I pity | I will show compassion | 3 |
H2347-07 |
וַ/תָּ֣חָס | vatachas | HC/Vqw3fs |
and-spared | and she showed compassion | 2 |
H2347-10 |
יָח֣וּס | yachus | HVqi3ms |
he-will-spare | he will have compassion | 1 |
H2347-06 |
תָח֥וּס | tachus | HVqi3fs |
will spare | she will show compassion | 1 |
H2347-09 |
יָ֭חֹס | yachos | HVqi3ms |
He will have compassion | he will spare | 1 |
H2347-03 |
חַ֨סְתָּ֙ | chaseta | HVqp2ms |
had compassion | you had compassion | 1 |
H2347-08 |
וְ/ח֥וּסָ/ה | vechusah | HC/Vqv2ms/Sh |
and spare | and have compassion | 1 |
H2347-04 |
ח֧וּסָ/ה | chusah | HVqv2ms/Sh |
spare | Show compassion! | 1 |
H2347-02 |
חָ֨סָה | chasah | HVqp3fs |
had pity | she showed compassion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
24 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2347-05 |
Genesis 45:20 | תָּחֹ֖ס | tachos | HVqj3fs |
regard | may she spare |
H2347-05 |
Deuteronomy 7:16 | תָחֹ֥ס | tachos | HVqi3fs |
shall pity | may she spare |
H2347-05 |
Deuteronomy 13:9 | תָח֤וֹס | tachos | HVqi3fs |
you shall pity | may she spare |
H2347-05 |
Deuteronomy 19:13 | תָח֥וֹס | tachos | HVqi3fs |
shall pity | may she spare |
H2347-05 |
Deuteronomy 19:21 | תָח֖וֹס | tachos | HVqi3fs |
you-shall-pity | may she spare |
H2347-05 |
Deuteronomy 25:12 | תָח֖וֹס | tachos | HVqi3fs |
shall you spare | may she spare |
H2347-07 |
1 Samuel 24:11 | וַ/תָּ֣חָס | vatachas | HC/Vqw3fs |
but you spared | and she showed compassion |
H2347-06 |
Isaiah 13:18 | תָח֥וּס | tachus | HVqi3fs |
will spare | she will show compassion |
H2347-01 |
Jeremiah 13:14 | אָח֛וּס | achus | HVqi1cs |
I-will-spare | I will show compassion |
H2347-10 |
Jeremiah 21:7 | יָח֣וּס | yachus | HVqi3ms |
he-will-spare | he will have compassion |