חֶמְלָה
𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤄
chemlâh
H2551 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An emotional response characterized by compassion, pity, or mercy toward another, especially one in distress, misfortune, or at risk. The term can refer both to the feeling itself (compassionate regard, sympathetic pity) and to the resulting act of restraint or sparing harm. In Biblical contexts, חֶמְלָה commonly signifies a withholding of destruction, punishment, or violence, often in response to an appeal for mercy or from a sense of shared humanity.
Semantic Range
compassion, pity, mercy, an act of sparing, emotional restraint from harm, feeling or act of leniency
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חמל, which means 'to spare, have compassion, show pity.' The abstract noun form חֶמְלָה conveys the state or quality of showing compassion or pity. The root focuses on the emotional impulse to protect or spare, especially in situations deserving of punishment, rather than simply a general kindness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֶמְלָה most often appears in narratives or prayers where individuals request, offer, or are granted mercy, particularly in life-and-death situations or as a motive for withholding destruction (e.g., Genesis 19:16 regarding Lot's escape from Sodom). In prophetic and poetic texts, it can also characterize divine action, emphasizing restraint from anger or judgment (see Isaiah 63:9, Jeremiah 13:14). While often translated 'pity,' 'mercy,' or 'compassion,' the nuance lies more in a feeling prompting an active sparing or lessening of harm, as opposed to the broader connotations of 'mercy' ('רַחַם', racham), which focuses more on maternal compassion or love. Over time, the term retained a close association with emotional restraint and turning aside deserved punishment. Standard English renderings often use 'pity' or 'compassion,' but these may not always communicate the full sense of sparing someone from rightly anticipated harm. The term remains relatively consistent across Biblical periods, though its theological framing may expand in post-exilic and later Jewish literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָמַל; commiseration; merciful, pity.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חמל (ḥ-m-l) — to spare, to have compassion, to show pity
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2538 | חָמוּל | to Compassioned-one |
| H2539 | חָמוּלִי | the Hamulite clansman |
| H2550 | חָמַל | he spared |
| H4263 | מַחְמָל | cherished-thing of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2551-02 |
וּ/בְ/חֶמְלָת֖/וֹ | uvechemelato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and in his sparing-compassion | 1 | |
H2551-01 |
בְּ/חֶמְלַ֥ת | bechemelat | HR/Ncfsc |
in compassionate sparing of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2551-01 |
Genesis 19:16 | בְּ/חֶמְלַ֥ת | bechemelat | HR/Ncfsc |
in compassionate sparing of | |
H2551-02 |
Isaiah 63:9 | וּ/בְ/חֶמְלָת֖/וֹ | uvechemelato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and in his sparing-compassion |