חֶמְלָה
commiseration
Definition
The Hebrew noun חֶמְלָה (chemlâh) refers to a deep, compassionate feeling of mercy or pity that moves a person to action. It denotes tender compassion, often in the context of sparing someone from harm or judgment. In Genesis 19:16, it describes the 'compassion' of the angels who physically seize Lot and his family to rescue them from Sodom's destruction. In Isaiah 63:9, it is attributed to God Himself, describing how in all of Israel's distress, He was distressed, and 'the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity (chemlâh) he redeemed them.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament. In Genesis 19:16, it describes the urgent, active pity of divine messengers executing a rescue. In Isaiah 63:9, it is used in a prophetic reflection on God's character, describing His profound, empathetic pity as the motive for Israel's redemption from Egypt. Both usages occur in contexts of dramatic deliverance from imminent danger, linking the feeling of pity directly to a saving act.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb חָמַל (chamal, H2550), which means 'to spare, to have compassion, to pity.' The noun form חֶמְלָה specifically denotes the quality or instance of such compassionate sparing. Related words from this root convey the idea of relenting from destruction or showing mercy.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it portrays divine compassion not as a passive feeling but as an active, saving force. In Isaiah 63:9, it is closely associated with God's love and personal involvement in redemption, offering a profound picture of a God who is moved by pity to save. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical mercy, especially God's, is inherently interventionist.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of a deity showing personal pity and intervening to save specific individuals or a nation was distinctive. This word contrasts with views of gods as capricious or distant, instead presenting a God intimately connected to human suffering.
רַחֲמִים (rachamim, H7356) — broader, womb-like compassion or mercy, often used for God's covenantal love. חֶסֶד (chesed, H2617) — steadfast love, loyalty, or covenant faithfulness.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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