English · KJV
H7359

רְחֵם

rᵉchêm /rekh-ame'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) corresponding to רַחַם
Meaning(plural) pity
KJV usagemercy.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rᵉchêm — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word rᵉchêm, represented by H7359, is a term for pity or mercy. It appears just 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, indicating its specific and focused application. It is the Aramaic corresponding word for the Hebrew term רַחַם.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H7359 is in the book of Daniel. Here, Daniel and his companions are urged to desire mercies from the God of heaven concerning a secret that would determine their fate Daniel 2:18. The word is used in the context of a desperate plea for divine compassion and intervention to prevent them from perishing along with the other wise men of Babylon.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in its singular context illuminate its meaning:

  • H1156 bᵉʻâʼ (to seek or ask): This word is directly linked to H7359 in the passage, as Daniel is told to desire mercies Daniel 2:18. It is also used when Daniel requested appointments from the king Daniel 2:49.
  • H426 ʼĕlâhh (God): Mercy is sought specifically from the God of heaven Daniel 2:18. This same term is used by King Darius when he refers to Daniel's protector as "the living God" Daniel 6:26.
  • H8065 shâmayin (heaven): This word specifies the origin of the mercy being sought, from the God of heaven Daniel 2:18. It is also used to describe the source of the eternal kingdom God will establish Daniel 2:44.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7359, despite its single use, is significant within its context.

  • Divine Source of Mercy: The word is exclusively linked to the "God of heaven," establishing that true mercy and pity originate from God himself Daniel 2:18.
  • Mercy Through Petition: The call to "desire" H1156 mercies shows that compassion from God is something to be actively sought through prayer and request, especially in times of crisis.
  • Mercy as Deliverance: In its scriptural context, receiving mercy is directly tied to physical preservation and divine revelation. The plea for mercy is made so that Daniel and his fellows "should not perish" Daniel 2:18.

Summary

In summary, H7359 provides a concise yet powerful Aramaic term for mercy. Its single appearance in the book of Daniel is pivotal, casting divine mercy as an attribute of the God of heaven that is actively sought by the faithful in moments of mortal danger. It demonstrates that God's compassion is the key to deliverance and the answer to desperate prayer.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • רַחֲמִין

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1156 בְּעָא (Aramaic) or בְּעָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to בָּעָה; to seek or ask; ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, se H426 אֱלָהּ (Aramaic) corresponding to אֱלוֹהַּ; God; God, god. H8065 שָׁמַיִן (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמַיִם; {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clou

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.