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רֶחֶם

𐤓𐤇𐤌

rechem

H7358 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רחם to show compassion, to have mercy, to love deeply

Definition

Anatomically, the uterus or womb as the locus of gestation and childbirth in female humans and some animals. By extension, the seat of origin, compassion, or nurturing care; in poetic or metaphorical usage, can denote the source or interior of a person or people. Primary sense is the physical womb, but literary and metaphorical uses highlight themes of origin and deep compassion.

Semantic Range

womb, uterus, place of gestation, source of offspring, matrix (in a poetic or extended sense), seat of origin or compassion (rare, poetic/metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

Root: רחם (r-ḥ-m). The root carries the core sense of 'to have compassion, show mercy, love deeply.' רֶחֶם (rechem) is the noun form meaning 'womb,' derived from the verbal root with the idea of the nurturing, protective, and life-giving nature of the womb. The physical womb serves as the image for the root’s extension to mercy or compassion, seen elsewhere in forms like רַחֲמִים (compassion, mercy).

Historical & Contextual Notes

רֶחֶם in the Hebrew Bible primarily refers to the literal womb, the seat of gestation for children (e.g., Genesis 20:18, Exodus 13:2). Its anatomical meaning is foundational, distinct from poetic references where the term becomes a metaphor for origins or for the compassionate aspect of a person (cf. Job 38:29, Psalm 22:10). The association between the womb and mercy is strong in Hebrew, where the root רחם underlies both physical and emotional meanings; thus, while רֶחֶם never directly means 'mercy' in biblical texts, this connotation informs later rabbinic and liturgical Hebrew. Unlike modern English, which often substitutes 'matrix' or 'womb' abstractly, ancient Israelite understanding was more visceral and holistic. Distinct from related terms for body or offspring (e.g., בטן beten for belly, מעה me‘eh for inner parts), רֶחֶם is reserved for the location of conception and birth, and does not denote general compassion or mercy as do derivatives like רַחֲמִים. In the post-exilic and later Judean period, the metaphorical sense became more fully developed, but biblical usage remains primarily anatomical or as a metaphor for life’s origin.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָחַם; (compare רַחַם); the womb; matrix, womb.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רחם (r-ḥ-m) — to show compassion, to have mercy, to love deeply

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

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7358-05 רֶ֖חֶם rechem HNcmsa the womb womb 10
H7358-03 מֵ/רֶ֣חֶם merechem HR/Ncmsc from the womb from the womb 7
H7358-04 רַחְמָ֑/הּ rachemah HNcmsc/Sp3fs her womb her womb 4
H7358-02 מֵ/רָ֑חֶם merachem HR/Ncmsa from the womb to show deep compassion 3
H7358-06 וְ/רַחְמָ֖/הֿ verachemah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and-womb-her and her womb 1
H7358-01 בָּ/רֶ֥חֶם barechem HRd/Ncmsa in the womb in the womb 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7358-05 Genesis 20:18 רֶ֖חֶם rechem HNcmsa the wombs womb
H7358-04 Genesis 29:31 רַחְמָ֑/הּ rachemah HNcmsc/Sp3fs her womb her womb
H7358-04 Genesis 30:22 רַחְמָֽ/הּ rachemah HNcmsc/Sp3fs her womb her womb
H7358-05 Exodus 13:2 רֶ֨חֶם֙ rechem HNcmsa womb womb
H7358-05 Exodus 13:12 רֶ֖חֶם rechem HNcmsa the womb womb
H7358-05 Exodus 13:15 רֶ֨חֶם֙ rechem HNcmsa the womb womb
H7358-05 Exodus 34:19 רֶ֖חֶם rechem HNcmsa the womb womb
H7358-05 Numbers 3:12 רֶ֖חֶם rechem HNcmsa the womb womb
H7358-05 Numbers 8:16 רֶ֜חֶם rechem HNcmsa womb womb
H7358-03 Numbers 12:12 מֵ/רֶ֣חֶם merechem HR/Ncmsc from-womb from the womb
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