Greek word · G3627

οἰκτείρω

oikteirō

to have compassion

To pity, to feel compassion for, to be moved by someone's wretched state. The related noun οἰκτιρμός (oiktirmos, usually plural, 'compassions') is a favourite Septuagint word for God's tender mercies (BDAG s.v. οἰκτίρω).

Appears 2 times in 1 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

οἰκτείρω

(οἶκτος, pity), [in LXX for רָחַם pi., חָנַן, etc. ;]

to pity, have compassion on. with accusative of person(s), Romans 9:15 (LXX).†

SYN.: ἐλεέω, q.v (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Romans 9:15

Range of meaning

To pity, to feel compassion for, to be moved by someone's wretched state. The related noun οἰκτιρμός (oiktirmos, usually plural, 'compassions') is a favourite Septuagint word for God's tender mercies (BDAG s.v. οἰκτίρω).

Against the English

'Have compassion' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT and most modern versions) is accurate. The difference from the first line is shading, not substance: eleeō leans toward the act, oiktirō toward the felt pity behind it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it regularly translates Hebrew raḥam, a verb related to reḥem, 'womb'. The picture is the gut-deep love of a parent for a child (compare Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 49:15). Paul uses the related noun in Romans 12:1, 'by the mercies [oiktirmoi] of God', which picks up the whole argument of chapters 9–11.

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 9:15 οἰκτιρήσω οἰκτίρω. I will have compassion on, I may have compassion.

    For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

    Here: Future: 'I will have pity.' This word puts more weight on the feeling, a deep inner pity. In the Septuagint it stands for Hebrew raḥam, a verb related to the word for 'womb'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.