רַחֲמִים

“Mercy” in Hebrew is Rachamim (רַחֲמִים), pronounced “ra-kha-MEEM.” Rachamim comes from the root ר-ח-ם (resh-chet-mem), which is also the word for 'womb' (rechem). God's mercy is literally 'womb-love' — the fierce, protective, nurturing love of a mother for her child.

Rachamim (רַחֲמִים) means “Mercy, compassion, tender love” in Biblical Hebrew. Rachamim appears 44 times in the Hebrew Bible. In Exodus 34:6, God reveals His character: 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful (rachum) and gracious.' The connection to 'womb' reveals that God's mercy is instinctive, deep, and unconditional.

Rachamim is pronounced “ra-kha-MEEM.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ר-ח-ם.

The connection between rachamim (mercy) and rechem (womb) reveals that God's compassion is not cold, distant forgiveness — it's the warm, fierce, protective love of a mother for her child. Isaiah 49:15 makes this explicit: 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!' God's mercy is more instinctive and tender than the deepest human love.

The 13 Attributes of Mercy (Midot HaRachamim) come from Exodus 34:6-7, where God reveals His character to Moses: 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.' These attributes are central to Jewish High Holiday prayers and are considered the ultimate revelation of God's nature.