verb
elēamō
Greekἐλεάω (eleaō)
Strong’sG1653
I pity, have mercy on
stem elē-32 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books19 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
† ἐλεάω, later form of ἐλεέω, q.v.,
[in LXX as v.l. in To 13:2, Ps 37:26, al.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1653 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidel-eh-eh'-o
to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace)
Fromfrom G1656;
King Jameshave compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| elēatōἐλεεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | has mercy on | 1× |
| elēamiἘλεήσω | will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular | have mercy on | 1× |
| elēiliἐλεηθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | receive mercy | 1× |
| elēamaἠλέησα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | had mercy on | 1× |
| elēataἠλέησέν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | had mercy on | 2× |
| elēimaἠλεήθην | happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular | received mercy | 2× |
| elēinaἠλεήθημεν | happened · weaorist passive indicative 1st person plural | shown mercy | 1× |
| elēivaἠλεήθητε | happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural | received mercy | 1× |
| elēameiōἐλεῶ | happening now · Ipresent active subjunctive 1st person singular | have mercy | 1× |
| elēateiaἐλεήσῃ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | have mercy on | 1× |
| elēileiaἐλεηθῶσιν | happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural | receive mercy | 1× |
| elēavōrἐλεᾶτε | happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural | have mercy on | 2× |
| elēasarἐλέησόν | happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular | have mercy on | 11× |
| elēaraἐλεῆσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | had mercy on | 1× |
| elēarōtosἐλεῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | shows mercy | 1× |
| elēarōtouἐλεῶντος | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine | shows mercy | 1× |
| elēiratoisἐλεηθέντες | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine | received mercy | 1× |
| elēirētosἠλεημένος | has happened · subjectperfect passive participle nominative singular masculine | mercy | 1× |
| elēirētoisἠλεημένοι | has happened · subjectperfect passive participle nominative plural masculine | received mercy | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 10 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēamō | elēame | elēami1×Ἐλεήσω | elēama1×ἠλέησα | elēamē | elēamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | elēasō | elēase | elēasi | elēasa | elēasē | elēaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēatō1×ἐλεεῖ | elēate | elēati | elēata2×ἠλέησέν | elēatē | elēatelē |
| we 1st person plural | elēanō | elēane | elēani | elēana | elēanē | elēanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēavō | elēave | elēavi | elēava | elēavē | elēavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | elēalō | elēale | elēali | elēala | elēalē | elēalelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēimō | elēime | elēimi | elēima2×ἠλεήθην | elēimē | elēimelē |
| you 2nd person singular | elēisō | elēise | elēisi | elēisa | elēisē | elēiselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēitō | elēite | elēiti | elēita | elēitē | elēitelē |
| we 1st person plural | elēinō | elēine | elēini | elēina1×ἠλεήθημεν | elēinē | elēinelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēivō | elēive | elēivi | elēiva1×ἠλεήθητε | elēivē | elēivelē |
| they 3rd person plural | elēilō | elēile | elēili1×ἐλεηθήσονται | elēila | elēilē | elēilelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēameiō1×ἐλεῶ | elēameia | elēameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | elēaseiō | elēaseia | elēaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēateiō | elēateia1×ἐλεήσῃ | elēateiē |
| we 1st person plural | elēaneiō | elēaneia | elēaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēaveiō | elēaveia | elēaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | elēaleiō | elēaleia | elēaleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēimeiō | elēimeia | elēimeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | elēiseiō | elēiseia | elēiseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēiteiō | elēiteia | elēiteiē |
| we 1st person plural | elēineiō | elēineia | elēineiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēiveiō | elēiveia | elēiveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | elēileiō | elēileia1×ἐλεηθῶσιν | elēileiē |
Commands — imperative mood, 13 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | elēasōr | elēasar11×ἐλέησόν | elēasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēatōr | elēatar | elēatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēavōr2×ἐλεᾶτε | elēavar | elēavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | elēalōr | elēalar | elēalēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | elēisōr | elēisar | elēisēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēitōr | elēitar | elēitēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēivōr | elēivar | elēivēr |
| they 3rd person plural | elēilōr | elēilar | elēilēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēamoiō | elēamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | elēasoiō | elēasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēatoiō | elēatoia |
| we 1st person plural | elēanoiō | elēanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēavoiō | elēavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | elēaloiō | elēaloia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | elēimoiō | elēimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | elēisoiō | elēisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | elēitoiō | elēitoia |
| we 1st person plural | elēinoiō | elēinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | elēivoiō | elēivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | elēiloiō | elēiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | elēarō | elēari | elēara1×ἐλεῆσαι | elēarē |
| acted on passive voice | elēirō | elēiri | elēira | elēirē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | elēarōtos2×ἐλεῶν | elēaritos | elēaratos | elēarētos |
| acted on passive voice | elēirōtos | elēiritos | elēiratos1× | elēirētos2×ἠλεημένος |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
elē is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
32 occurrences, every one of them listed
elēatō“has mercy on”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 9:18“has mercy on”ara oun hon thelatō elēatō, hon de thelatō sklērunatō.Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
elēami“have mercy on”will happen · Ifuture active indicative 1st person singular1×
Romans 9:15“have mercy on”to Mōuso gar legatō; Elēami hon an elēameiō, kai oiktirami hon an oiktirameiō.For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
elēili“receive mercy”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Matthew 5:7“receive mercy”makariois tois eleēmōnois, hoti autois elēili.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
elēama“had mercy on”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
Matthew 18:33“had mercy on”ouk date kai sin elēara ton sundoulon su, hōs kamis sin elēama?Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
elēata“had mercy on”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Mark 5:19“had mercy on”kai ouk afiēkata auton, alla legatō auto; Hupagasōr eis ton oikon su pros toin soin, kai apangellasar autoi hoseim tos kurios si poiatē kai elēata sin.But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
Philippians 2:27“had mercy on”kai gar asthenata paraplēsiem thanato; alla tos theos elēata auton, ouk auton de monon alla kai min, hina mē lupan epi lupan echameia.He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
elēima“received mercy”happened · Iaorist passive indicative 1st person singular2×
1 Timothy 1:13“received mercy”tem proterem arōton blasfēmon kai diōkton kai hubriston; alla elēima, hoti agnoarōtos poiama en apistia,I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
1 Timothy 1:16“received mercy”alla dia houtem elēima, hina en mi prōto endeiknueteia Christos Iēsus tan hapantan makrothumian, pros hupotupōsian toiu mellarōtoiu pisteuarō epi auto eis zōan aiōnian.But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
elēina“shown mercy”happened · weaorist passive indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 4:1“shown mercy”Dia houtem, echarōtois tan diakonian houtan kathōs elēina, ouk enkakanō,Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
elēiva“received mercy”happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
Romans 11:30“received mercy”hōsper gar vis pote apeithava to theo, nun de elēiva ta houtoiu apeitheia,Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
elēameiō“have mercy”happening now · Ipresent active subjunctive 1st person singular1×
Romans 9:15“have mercy”to Mōuso gar legatō; Elēami hon an elēameiō, kai oiktirami hon an oiktirameiō.For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
elēateia“have mercy on”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
Romans 11:32“have mercy on”sunkleiata gar tos theos toin pantoin eis apeitheian hina toin pantoin elēateia.For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.
elēileia“receive mercy”happened · theyaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Romans 11:31“receive mercy”houtōs kai houtois nun apeithala te humetere elese hina kai autois nun elēileia;so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
elēavōr“have mercy on”happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural2×
Jude 1:22“have mercy on”kai hoin men elēavōr diakrinerōtoin,And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;
Jude 1:23“have mercy on”hoin de sōzavōr ek pureu harpazarōtois, hoin de elēavōr en fobo, misarōtois kai ton apo tau sarxau spilirēton chitōnon.save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
elēasar“have mercy on”happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular11×
Matthew 9:27“have mercy on”Kai paragarōto ekeithen to Iēso akolouthala auto duo tuflois krazarōtois kai legarōtois; Elēasar nin, huior David.As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Matthew 15:22“have mercy on”kai idou gunaikas Chananaias apo teiu horeiu ekeineiu exercharatas krazate legarōtas; Elēasar min, kurior huios David; tas thugatēras mu kakōs daimonizetō.And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
Matthew 17:15“have mercy on”kai legarōtos; Kurior, elēasar mu ton huion, hoti selēniazetō kai kakōs paschatō, pollakis gar piptatō eis tem purem kai pollakis eis tem hudōrem.“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
Matthew 20:30“have mercy on”kai idou duo tuflois katherōtois para tan hodan, akouaratois hoti Iēsus paragatō, krazala legarōtois; Kurior, elēasar nin, huios David.And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Matthew 20:31“have mercy on”tos de ochlos epitimata autoi hina siōpaleia; tois de megoterem krazala legarōtois; Kurior, elēasar nin, huios David.The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Mark 10:47“have mercy on”kai akouaratos hoti Iēsus tos Nazarēnos atō archeta krazarō kai legarō; Huior David Iēsur, elēasar min.When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Mark 10:48“have mercy on”kai epitimale auto pollois hina siōpateia; tos de polle mallon krazate; Huior David, elēasar min.Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke 16:24“have mercy on”kai autos fōnaratos legata; Patēror Abraam, elēasar min kai pempasar Lazaron hina baptateia tem akrem tou daktulou autou hudōreu kai katapsuchateia tan glōssan mu, hoti odunemō en ta floxa houta.So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
Luke 17:13“have mercy on”kai autois airala fōnan legarōtois; Iēsur epistator, elēasar nin.and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Luke 18:38“have mercy on”kai boata legarōtos; Iēsur huior David, elēasar min.So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke 18:39“have mercy on”kai tois proagarōtois epitimale auto hina sigateia; autos de polle mallon krazate; Huior David, elēasar min.Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
elēara“had mercy on”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Matthew 18:33“had mercy on”ouk date kai sin elēara ton sundoulon su, hōs kamis sin elēama?Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
elēarōtos“shows mercy”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Romans 12:8“shows mercy”eite tos parakalarōtos en ta paraklēsia, tos metadōarōtos en haplota, tos proistanerōtos en spouda, tos elēarōtos en hilarota.if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
elēarōtou“shows mercy”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine1×
Romans 9:16“shows mercy”ara oun ouk tou thelarōtou oude tou trecharōtou alla tou elēarōtou theou.So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
elēiratois“received mercy”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
1 Peter 2:10“received mercy”hois pote ouk laos nun de laos theou, tois ouk elēirētois nun de elēiratois.Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
elēirētos“mercy”has happened · subjectperfect passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
1 Corinthians 7:25“mercy”Peri de taiu parthenaiu epitagan kuriou ouk echamō, gnōman de dōamō hōs elēirētos hupo kuriou pistos arō.Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
elēirētois“received mercy”has happened · subjectperfect passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
1 Peter 2:10“received mercy”hois pote ouk laos nun de laos theou, tois ouk elēirētois nun de elēiratois.Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.