Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| רַחֲמִים | rakhamím | masculine, plural |
| חֶמְלָה | khemlá | feminine |
| אֶמְפַּתְיָה | empatiá | feminine |
רַחֲמִים is the most widely recognized word for compassion and is especially common in religious or formal contexts, where it often implies divine mercy. The word is related to the Hebrew word for womb, which suggests a deep, almost maternal compassion.
Which one should you use?
חֶמְלָה, romanized khemlá, is often used in formal or literary language for pity or compassion toward someone in distress. אֶמְפַּתְיָה, romanized empatiá, is a modern loanword that means empathy in a psychological or interpersonal sense, not the broader idea of mercy.
How does it change in a sentence?
רַחֲמִים is a masculine plural noun in form, while חֶמְלָה and אֶמְפַּתְיָה are feminine singular nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
Romanized it is rakhamím, with the stress on the last syllable. The kh is a throaty sound like the ch in the Scottish word loch.
Did you know?
- In traditional Jewish liturgy, the plea for רַחֲמִים is often directed toward the 'Thirteen Attributes of Mercy', a specific set of divine characteristics described in the Torah.
- The word חֶמְלָה is closely related to a root meaning 'to spare' or 'to protect'. This shifts the focus from the internal feeling of the observer to the active desire to shield the sufferer from harm.
- The word רַחֲמִים is always plural in form, even when referring to a single feeling of compassion. This suggests that mercy is viewed as a multifaceted or overflowing emotion rather than a single state.
Examples in context
- מוֹדָה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ, מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּים, שֶׁהֶֽחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמֽוּנָתֶֽךָ.I thank You, living and enduring King, Who has returned my spirit to me with compassion. Great is Your trust.This line from the traditional morning prayer uses בְּחֶמְלָה, meaning with compassion, with the prefix for with attached to חֶמְלָה.Tatoeba #8613200 by shekitten, translation #8613221 by shekitten
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noam and Noa are talking about a difficult situation.
- נועם Noamזה היה רגע של רַחֲמִים אמיתיים.Ze haya rega shel rachamim amitiyim.That was a moment of true compassion.
- נועה Noaכן, זה בהחלט ריגש אותי.Ken, ze behachlet rigesh oti.Yes, it really moved me.
- נועם Noamנועה, כולם צריכים להרגיש רַחֲמִים.Noa, kulam tzrichim lehargish rachamim.Noa, everyone needs to feel compassion.
- נועה Noaאני מסכימה איתך, נועם.Ani maskima itcha, Noam.I agree with you, Noam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “compassion” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
