רַחַם
𐤓𐤇𐤌
Racham
H7357 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Racham, the name of an individual who appears as a descendant of Caleb in genealogical records. As a noun, the name draws from the underlying root meaning 'compassion' or 'tenderness,' though in this context it functions strictly as a personal name without direct indication of these attributes. The semantic range, when used as a proper name, does not refer to the action or quality of compassion but rather serves as an identifier within family genealogies.
Semantic Range
proper name of an Israelite; derived from a root meaning 'compassion, mercy'; does not denote compassion when used as a proper name; identifies an individual in genealogical records
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root ר-ח-ם (resh-chet-mem), whose core meaning relates to 'to have compassion,' 'to be tender,' or 'to show mercy.' As a proper noun, רַחַם is formed either directly from the root or as a shortened form of related nouns (e.g., רַחֲמִים, 'compassion, mercy'). The root meaning does not necessarily provide a literal description of the individual's character but reflects common practice in ancient Israelite naming conventions of invoking positive qualities or concepts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רַחַם as a personal name is attested only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 2:44, where Racham is listed among the descendants of Caleb within the tribe of Judah. The use of the root ר-ח-ם ('to have compassion') in personal names reflects a broader ancient Near Eastern pattern of using names that invoke divine or human virtues as blessings or aspirations. The English forms 'Raham' or 'Racham' encountered in translations do not convey the lexical sense of the root; instead, they function only as transliterations. Unlike other forms derived from the same root, such as רַחֲמִים ('compassion, mercy'), the name רַחַם does not refer to an attribute or action but solely identifies an individual in a genealogical context. There is no evidence that the bearer of the name had any association with the qualities implied by the root. The corresponding usage in the Chronicler's genealogies is consistent with naming practices of the monarchic and post-exilic periods. Later English translations have often rendered the name simply as 'Raham' or 'Racham,' sometimes associating it with the concept of pity or mercy in footnotes, but such attributions are interpretive rather than lexical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as רַחַם; pity; Racham, an Israelite; Raham.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רחם (r-ḥ-m) — compassion, tenderness, mercy
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3395 | יְרֹחָם | He-will-be-shown-compassion |
| H3396 | יְרַחְמְאֵל | to El-will-show-compassion |
| H3819 | לֹא רֻחָמָה | Not-shown-compassion |
| H7348 | רְחוּם | Rechum |
| H7349 | רַחוּם | compassionate |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7357-01 |
רַ֖חַם | racham | HNp |
Raham | Racham | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7357-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:44 | רַ֖חַם | racham | HNp |
Raham | Racham |