Word studies · Greek · Strong's G1656
ἔλεος · éleos · appears 27 times in the New Testament
In one line: Compassion shown in action toward someone in need.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Ephesians 2:4
Mercy is compassion in action toward those in need or distress — kindness shown especially to the undeserving or suffering.
Eleos describes God's compassionate response to human weakness and sin, and the compassion believers are called to extend to others. It's often paired with grace, but where grace emphasizes unearned favor, mercy emphasizes relief of misery.
Eleos was used in everyday Greek for pity or compassion shown to someone in a wretched state, often for practical acts of relief. The New Testament retains that concrete, active sense — mercy is compassion that moves toward the sufferer, not just a feeling about them.
Mercy in the biblical sense is not passive sentiment; it consistently shows up attached to action — the merciful in the Beatitudes are called blessed because they actively act on behalf of others, echoing the Hebrew chesed behind much New Testament mercy language.
Eleos (G1656) is the root behind the ancient Christian prayer “Kyrie eleison” — “Lord, have mercy” — still used in liturgies across many church traditions today.
Mercy describes God's disposition toward sinners — “God, being rich in mercy... made us alive together with Christ” — and becomes the model for how believers are to treat others: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Look for someone today who needs mercy rather than judgment, and extend the same compassion you've received from God. Choose one concrete act of mercy you can offer this week.
compassion (human or divine, especially active)
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Matthew 9:13His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Luke 1:50What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—
Romans 9:23Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:16To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:2Press and hold mercy in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.