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רָחָם

𐤓𐤇𐤌

râchâm

H7360 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ר־ח־ם to have compassion, to show mercy

Definition

A large bird of prey, most likely a species of vulture or raptor, referenced as 'racham' (feminine: 'rachamah'). The term denotes a scavenging bird, possibly recognizable for behaviors observed in the ancient Near East, such as circling over carcasses. The semantic range reflects a specific but not fully identified carrion-eating bird, traditionally cataloged among the 'unclean' animals in Israelite dietary laws.

Semantic Range

a type of vulture, possibly bearded vulture or Egyptian vulture; large scavenging bird; bird designated as unclean in dietary law

Root / Etymology

From the root רחם (r-ḥ-m), which at the root level means 'to have compassion, to show mercy.' The connection is likely descriptive or folk-etymological, reflecting an observation—possibly erroneous or idealized—regarding the perceived care of vultures for their young. The noun here, however, designates a type of bird and not the notion of compassion itself.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָחָם (racham) is attested in Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:17 in legal lists of prohibited birds. While traditional English translations have rendered it as 'gier-eagle,' 'vulture,' or kept a transliterated form, the precise identification is debated (candidates include Egyptian vulture, bearded vulture, or lammergeier). The feminine form, רָחָמָה (rachamah), occurs in parallel lists and is grammatically marked for gender, possibly denoting the species as a type or the female of the kind. The association with mercy or compassion comes from the root, but there is no direct evidence that this bird was believed uniquely tender to its young; this likely arises from folk etymology or later commentary, not from biblical context. The term is distinct from other avian terms such as nesher (נֶשֶׁר, usually 'eagle' or 'griffon vulture') and peres (פֶּרֶס, probably 'bearded vulture'). In later translation and tradition, interpretations have varied, sometimes influenced by post-biblical zoological knowledge.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) רָחָמָה; from רָחַם; a kind of vulture (supposed to be tender towards its young); gier-eagle.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7360-02 הָ/רָחָ֖מָ/ה harachamah HTd/Ncmsa/Sh the vulture the compassion-vulture 1
H7360-01 הָ/רָחָֽם haracham HTd/Ncmsa gier eagle racham vulture 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7360-01 Leviticus 11:18 הָ/רָחָֽם haracham HTd/Ncmsa gier eagle racham vulture
H7360-02 Deuteronomy 14:17 הָ/רָחָ֖מָ/ה harachamah HTd/Ncmsa/Sh the vulture the compassion-vulture
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