### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **rachmânîy**, represented by `{{H7362}}`, provides a definition of being **compassionate** or **pitiful**. Derived from רָחַם, its meaning is conveyed through a single, powerful appearance in scripture. It appears **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its sole context crucial to its interpretation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its only biblical use, `{{H7362}}` is found in a harrowing description of Jerusalem's fall. The verse paints a grim picture where the hands of the **pitiful** women have cooked their own children for food during the siege [[Lamentations 4:10]]. Here, the word describes women who would normally be seen as compassionate, but who have been driven to an unthinkable act by the desperation of the city's destruction.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context illuminate the gravity of the scene:
* `{{H3027}}` **yâd** (a hand): Defined as an open hand indicating power or means, this word is often associated with divine help [[Ezra 8:22]] or human action [[Ecclesiastes 11:6]]. In [[Lamentations 4:10]], the **hands** that should nurture are used for this horrific act, signifying a complete perversion of their purpose.
* `{{H802}}` **ʼishshâh** (a woman): This term for a **woman** or wife is foundational to family and society [[Genesis 2:24]]. The women in this verse, described as pitiful, stand in stark contrast to the ideal of a virtuous woman [[Proverbs 31:10]], highlighting the utter collapse of the social order.
* `{{H3206}}` **yeled** (child): A **child** is presented elsewhere as a gift and a blessing [[Isaiah 9:6]]. The fact that children become food for their mothers underscores the extreme severity of the judgment described in [[Lamentations 4:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7362}}` is centered on its stark, singular usage.
* **The Collapse of Natural Affection:** The word describes women who are "pitiful" or "compassionate" by nature, yet are performing the most unnatural of acts. This serves as a powerful biblical illustration of how sin and divine judgment can lead to a complete breakdown of the most fundamental human bonds [[Lamentations 4:10]].
* **A Portrait of Extreme Judgment:** The scene depicts the horrifying depths of suffering during "the destruction of the daughter of my people" [[Lamentations 4:10]]. The use of **rachmânîy** in this context serves not to praise an act of compassion, but to highlight the tragic state into which the people had fallen.
* **The Consequences of Forsaking God:** The context of Lamentations is a response to judgment. The actions of the "pitiful women" demonstrate the terrible end-point for a people whose forsaking of God, as warned about, has become a reality [[Ezra 8:22]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7362}}` is a uniquely focused term whose meaning is defined entirely by its dark context in Lamentations. Rather than being a simple descriptor of compassion, it functions as a tragic label for those whose circumstances have twisted their nature into something unrecognizable. It stands as a solemn testament to the profound spiritual and physical devastation that results from sin and judgment.
TRV