Ra'hamim, Devine Mercy

God of Compassion, Devine Mercy - Ra'hamim

The Hebrew word Rahamim is from the root word rehem = mother's womb, denoting the love of a mothe. From the deep and original bond mother womb to baby.  Hesed emphasizes self-fidelity and responsibility for one's love, often seen as masculine traits, while rahamim represents a mother’s unconditional love, stemming from the deep bond with her child. It is a "feminine" counterpart to hesed, characterized by kindness, tenderness, patience, and forgiveness.

In the Old Testament, rahamim reflects God's compassion, as seen in Isaiah: "Can a woman forget her nursing child? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you" (Isaiah 49:15). It also signifies salvation, forgiveness, and God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness, as in Hosea: "I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely" (Hosea 14:4).