Eleos

Eleos (Greek: ἔλεος) is a Greek noun commonly translated as mercy, pity, or compassion. It derives from the verb ἐλεέω (eleeō), meaning to show mercy or to have compassion toward someone. In ancient Greek thought, eleos refers to the affective response to others’ misfortune and the accompanying actions of mercy, clemency, or aid offered to those in need.

In classical literature, eleos appears in Homeric and later Greek texts to signal pity for the vulnerable and to motivate charitable or protective responses. It is often discussed in relation to other social virtues and is depicted as part of the moral economy that governs human relations, sometimes in tension with concepts such as justice or revenge. In philosophy and rhetoric, eleos can function as a persuasive appeal to the audience’s sense of shared humanity.

In Jewish and Christian Greek literature, eleos is a key translation of Hebrew hesed and of God’s mercy. The Septuagint and the New Testament use eleos to describe divine mercy toward humanity and the ethical obligation of believers to practice mercy toward others. In Christian theology, eleos is a central facet of God’s character and of Christian ethical life. In modern Greek, eleos remains the standard term for mercy in religious and secular usage, continuing a long linguistic and cultural tradition.

See also: mercy, compassion, hesed.