ra.cha.mim denotes compassionate mercy toward people, shown, sought, withheld, or expressed in rescue and restoration.

The term consistently denotes compassionate mercy directed toward people: it is attributed to God in gathering, rescuing, forgiving, and restoring, while human instances portray it as tenderness toward another person or as care that may be withheld or corrupted.

1. Compassionate mercy toward people · dominant

   The noun, in both plural construct and absolute forms, marks mercy that moves toward another's need. In Isaiah 54:7 the APB renders a gathering undertaken "with great compassion"; in Nehemiah 9:27 it connects God's rescue through saviors with his great compassions; and in Jeremiah 42:12 it occurs in a promise of compassion leading to restoration. The same disposition appears in human settings: in Genesis 43:30 Joseph's compassion is stirred for his brother, while Proverbs 12:10 contrasts care for an animal with the wicked's cruel compassions.

   Isaiah 54:7Nehemiah 9:27Jeremiah 42:12Genesis 43:30Proverbs 12:10Zechariah 7:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with "compassion" or "compassions," and also uses "mercies" in some clauses. Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these renderings indicate the verse context rather than a fixed English equivalent for every occurrence.