[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/merciful/)

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# merciful

adjective (merciful, more merciful, most merciful); adverb mercifully

«merciful» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Showing mercy: kind and forgiving to someone you could punish or harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#m1)
2. (church, Bible) Christians believe God is merciful, forgiving people who are sorry; Muslims call God «the Most Merciful». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#m2)
3. Bringing relief from something bad: «a merciful release», «mercifully short». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religion lessons «Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy» is a Beatitude; the Islamic phrase «In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful» begins most chapters of the Qur'an. In stories a merciful king spares his enemy. Phrases: «merciful God», «a merciful act», «mercifully short».

### Examples

- God is merciful and forgives those who are sorry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x1)
- The merciful king let the prisoner go free. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x2)
- «Blessed are the merciful.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x3)
- The talk was mercifully short. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x4)
- Be merciful to animals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x5)
- Muslims begin with «In the name of God, the Most Merciful». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/#x6)

### Note

Spelled with one l at the end. Noun: mercy. Opposite: merciless, cruel. «Mercifully» can mean «luckily, thankfully»: «Mercifully, it stopped raining.»

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Merciful is one of the Thirteen Attributes of God from Exodus 34:6. Jews recite them in prayers of forgiveness, especially on Yom Kippur. In the primary lessons: In religion lessons «Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy» is a Beatitude; the Islamic phrase «In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful» begins most chapters of the Qur'an. In stories a merciful king spares his enemy. Phrases: «merciful God», «a merciful act», «mercifully short».

### Examples

- And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; (Torah EXO.34.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x1)
- for the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He swore unto them. (Torah DEU.4.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x2)
- But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him. (Torah GEN.19.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x3)
- With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright, (Prophets 2SA.22.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x4)
- With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright; (Writings PSA.18.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x5)
- The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. (Writings PRO.11.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/#x6)

### Note

Spelled with one l at the end. Noun: mercy. Opposite: merciless, cruel. «Mercifully» can mean «luckily, thankfully»: «Mercifully, it stopped raining.»

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «merciful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/merciful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«merciful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/merciful.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «merciful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/merciful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«merciful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/merciful.html) on Mova free.