Bible Lexicons

Berry's Synonyms of the New TestamentBerry's NT Synonyms

Mercy, Compassion

ἔλεος, οἰκτιρμός.

Both words denote sympathy, fellow-feeling with misery, mercy, compassion. ἔλεος, however, manifests itself chiefly in acts rather than words, while οἰκτιρμός is used rather of the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. A criminal might ask for ἔλεος, mercy, from his judge; but hopeless suffering may be the object of οἰκτιρμός, compassion.