Lexicon index Lexicon
Eleos
Mercy — the loving-kindness of God that stoops to the creature in need; the word at the heart of the Jesus Prayer.
Eleos (mercy, lovingkindness) is the New Testament word for God's compassionate response to human need: the word used in the Jesus Prayer ('have mercy on me'), in the Kyrie eleison ('Lord, have mercy'), and throughout the liturgical life of the Church. It translates the Hebrew hesed — covenantal lovingkindness, steadfast mercy. Eleos is not merely forgiveness but God's entire movement of love toward the fallen creature: stooping, healing, raising, filling.