Strong's Lexicon

G1656

G1656 — ἔλεος

Greek entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

GreekeleosnounOccurrences: 27

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:G1656
Word:ἔλεος
Part of Speech:noun
Etymology:of uncertain affinity
Language:Greek
Occurrences:27
Transliteration:eleos
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:el'-eh-os
Meaning:1. compassion {human or divine, especially active}
KJV Renderings:(+ tender) mercy

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Thayer's Greek Lexicon

ἔλεος (1), ἐλέου, , mercy: that of God toward sinners, Tit 3:5; ἔλεον λαμβάνειν, to receive i. e. experience, Heb 4:16; that of men: readiness to help those in trouble, Mat 9:13 and Mat 12:7 (from Hos 6:6); Mat 23:23. But in all these passages L T Tr WH have adopted the neuter form τό ἔλεος (which see), much more common in Hellenistic writings than the masculine ὁ ἔλεος, which is the only form in classic Greek (Sophocles (Lexicon, under the word) notes ἔλεος in Polybius 1, 88, 2; and Pape in Diodorus Siculus 3, 18 variant). The Greek manuscripts of the O. T. also frequently waver between the two forms. Cf. (WHs Appendix, p. 158); Winers Grammar, 66 (64); Buttmann, 22 (20).

STRONGS NT 1656: ἔλεος (2)ἔλεος (2), ἐλέους, τό (a form more common in Hellenistic Greek than the classic ὁ ἔλεος, which see), "mercy; kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them";

1. of men toward men: Mat 9:13; Mat 12:7; Mat 23:23 (in these three passages, accusatives to L T Tr WH); Jas 2:13; Jas 3:17; ποιεῖν ἔλεος, to exercise the virtue of mercy, show oneself merciful, Jas 2:13; with the addition of μετά τίνος (in imitation of the very common Hebrew phrase ôÌ òÄí çÆñÆã òÈùÈÒä, Gen 21:23; Gen 24:12; Jdg 1:24, etc.; cf. Thiersch, De Pentateuchi vers. Alex., p. 147; (Winer’s Grammar, 33 (32); 376 (353))), to show, afford, mercy to one, Luk 10:37.

2. of God toward men;

a. universally: Luk 1:50; in benedictions: Gal 6:16; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2; ((probably) Tit 1:4 R L); 2Jn 1:3; Jud 1:2. ἐμεγάλυνε κύριος τό ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μεταὐτῆς, magnified his mercy toward her, i. e. showed distinguished mercy to her (after the Hebrew, see Gen 19:19), Luk 1:58.

b. especially the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ: Luk 1:54; Rom 15:9; Eph 2:4; (Tit 3:5 L T Tr WH; Heb 4:16 L T Tr WH); 1Pe 1:3; σπλάγχνα ἐλέους (the genitive of quality (cf. Winers Grammar, 611 (568))), wherein mercy dwells, as we should say, the heart of mercy, Luk 1:78; ποιεῖν ἔλεος μετά τίνος (see 1 above), Luk 1:72; σκεύη ἐλέους, vessels (fitted for the reception) of mercy, i. e. men whom GOd has made fit to obtain salvation through Christ, Rom 9:23; τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ἐληι, by (in consequence of, moved by) the mercy shown you in your conversion to Christ, Rom 11:31 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 22, 7 (cf. § 61, 3 a.); Buttmann, 157 (137)).

3. the mercy of Christ, whereby at his return to judgment he will bless true Christians with eternal life: Jud 1:21; (2Ti 1:16; 2Ti 1:18 (on the repetition of κύριος in 2Ti 1:18 cf. Gen 19:24; 1Sa 3:21; 1Sa 15:22; 2Ch 7:2; Gen 1:27, etc. Winer’s Grammar, § 22, 2); but Prof. Grimm understands κύριος here as referring to God; see κύριος, c. α.). (Cf. Trench, § xlvii.; and see ἐληω at the end.)

Other Resources

Dictionary of New Testament Theology
Colin Brown

Englishman's Greek Concordance

ἔλεος ((+ tender) mercy)

Matthew 9:13

KJV: But go ye and learn what meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
GK: πορευθέντες δε μάθετε τι εστιν έλεον θέλω και ου θυσίαν ου γαρ ήλθον καλέσαι δικαίους αλλά αμαρτωλούς εις μετάνοιαν

Matthew 12:7

KJV: But if ye had known what meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice ye would not have condemned the guiltless
GK: ει δε εγνώκειτε τι εστιν έλεον θέλω και ου θυσίαν ουκ αν κατεδικάσατε τους αναιτίους

Matthew 23:23

KJV: Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have omitted the weightier of the law judgment mercy and faith these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone
GK: ουαί υμίν γραμματείς και Φαρισαίοι υποκριταί ότι αποδεκατούτε το ηδύοσμον και το άνηθον και το κύμινον και αφήκατε τα βαρύτερα του νόμου την κρίσιν και τον έλεον και την πίστιν ταύτα έδει ποιήσαι κακείνα μη αφίεναι

Luke 1:50

KJV: And his mercy on them that fear him from generation to generation
GK: και το έλεος αυτού εις γενεάς γενεών τοις φοβουμένοις αυτόν

Luke 1:54

KJV: He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of mercy
GK: αντελάβετο Ισραήλ παιδός αυτού μνησθήναι ελέους

Luke 1:58

KJV: And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her and they rejoiced with her
GK: και ήκουσαν οι περίοικοι και οι συγγενείς αυτής ότι εμεγάλυνε κύριος το έλεος αυτού μετ΄ αυτής και συνέχαιρον αυτή

Luke 1:72

KJV: To perform the mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant
GK: ποιήσαι έλεος μετά των πατέρων ημών και μνησθήναι διαθήκης αγίας αυτού

Luke 1:78

KJV: Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us
GK: διά σπλάγχνα ελέους θεού ημών εν οις επεσκέψατο ημάς ανατολή εξ ύψους

Luke 10:37

KJV: And he said He that shewed mercy on him Then said Jesus unto him Go and do thou likewise
GK: ο δε είπεν ο ποιήσας το έλεος μετ΄ αυτού είπεν ούν αυτώ ο Ιησούς πορεύου και συ ποίει ομοίως
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