“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:1

God's rainbow God’s “mercy” is a monumental theme in Scripture.

This word, “mercy”, appears some 341 times in the Bible. Variations of this word in both Hebrew and Greek appear a total of 454 times and are also translated by “kindness,” “lovingkindness,” “goodness,” “favor,” “compassion,” and “pity.”

Of the 66 books of the Bible, only 16 do not use one of the words for mercy. Even though “mercy” is an important concept, it is somewhat difficult to prescribe a definition for it, especially since “grace” is occasionally coupled with it.

In the first reference where “mercy” is used, Lot has just been removed from Sodom by hand of two witnessing angels of judgment. In spite of these angels warnings to flee the coming judgment of our Lord – that Lot and his daughters “escape to the mountain:

” Lot begs; “Oh, not so, my LORD: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life, . . . this city is near . . . Oh, let me escape thither.” Genesis 19:17-20

Referencing a later application in the  New Testament, the saints are told to:

“come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

In these and other such passages, the two terms appear to address similar subjects. However similar they may appear to be, these words are not synonyms.

  • “Grace” is most often associated with the sovereign dispensation of totally undeserved favor, and it is specifically connected to salvation.
  • “Mercy” is more often connected to the withholding of judgment:

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

Followers of Jesus Christ rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ has shown us undeserved favor “grace” and has withheld His righteous judgment of our sin (“mercy”):

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:15-18

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