The Greek adjective ἀνελεήμων (aneleēmon) means “unmerciful” or “without compassion.” It is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-), meaning “not,” and ἐλεήμων (eleēmon), meaning “merciful” or “compassionate.” The term describes someone who lacks mercy or compassion, often in a moral or ethical context.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀνελεήμων (G415) is used to characterize individuals who are devoid of mercy or compassion. It appears in Matthew 18:33, where Jesus criticizes a servant for failing to show mercy to his fellow servant after having been forgiven a large debt himself. The term highlights the moral expectation of showing compassion to others, reflecting the broader biblical principle of mercy.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon elaborates on ἀνελεήμων by noting that it means “unmerciful” or “without compassion.” BDAG provides context for its use, emphasizing that the term describes individuals who do not extend mercy or kindness to others, thereby failing to meet the ethical standards expected in interpersonal relationships.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon supports this interpretation by defining ἀνελεήμων as “unmerciful” or “without compassion.” LSJ emphasizes its application in moral and ethical contexts where showing mercy is crucial, aligning with its use in biblical passages to denote a lack of compassion or kindness.

In summary, ἀνελεήμων primarily means “unmerciful” or “without compassion,” indicating a state of lacking mercy or compassion. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing moral and ethical failings related to compassion in biblical and classical Greek literature.