Compassionate and Gracious God is one of the descriptive names of God that draws from His self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 34-35.
Khannun refers to God’s unconditioned choice. It is sometimes translated “mercy” but the emphasis is on the graciousness with which it is extended.
Elsewhere, El Rakhum is rendered as Merciful God. Rakhum refers to a deep inward feeling of loving concern, usually of a superior for an inferior and perhaps drawing meaning from the love of a mother because rekhem means “womb.” Pity, compassion, and mercy are all part of it.
Compassionate and Gracious God (El-rakhum wekhannun) in the Hebrew text of Psalm 86:15.
Compassionate and Gracious God in Hebrew:
’El-khannun werakhum
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 410, 2587, 7349
Bible references: Neh. 9:31; Ps. 86:15; Jonah 4:2
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ps. 86:15 NIV)
[Jonah] prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. (Jonah 4:2)
In some of the references in some versions, the names are in reverse.
One similar name of God is Compassionate God. In the New Testament, God is called the Father of mercies.
