King James Bible Dictionary

Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Genesis 19:19; Exodus 20:6; 34:6, 7; Psalms 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matthew 5:7; 18:33-35).

General references
2 Samuel 22:26; Psalms 18:25; Psalms 37:25-26; Psalms 85:10; Proverbs 3:3-4; Proverbs 11:17; Proverbs 12:10; Proverbs 14:21-22; Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 21:21; Hosea 4:1; Hosea 12:6; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:7; Matthew 23:23; Luke 6:36; Romans 12:8; Colossians 3:12-13; James 2:13
God, Mercy of; Kindness

Instances of:

The prison keeper, to Joseph
Genesis 39:21-23

Joshua to Rahab
Joshua 6:25

The Israelites to the man of Beth-El
Judges 1:23-26

David to Saul
1 Samuel 24:10-13; 1 Samuel 24:17

MER'CY, noun [Latin misericordia.]

1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.

The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Numbers 14:18.

2. An act or exercise of mercy or favor. It is a mercy that they escaped.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. Genesis 32:1.

3. Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.

And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Luke 10:37.

4. Clemency and bounty.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy Proverbs 28:13.

5. Charity, or the duties of charity and benevolence.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice. Matthew 9:13.

6. Grace; favor. 1 Corinthians 7:25. Jude 1:2.

7. Eternal life, the fruit of mercy 2 Timothy 1:2.

8. Pardon.

I cry thee mercy with all my heart.

9. The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected. The prisoner cried for mercy

To be or to lie at the mercy of, to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the mercy or compassion of another, or in the power of that which is irresistible; as, to be at the mercy of a foe, or of the waves.

(Heb. kapporeth, a "covering;" LXX. and N.T., hilasterion; Vulg., propitiatorium), the covering or lid of the ark of the covenant (q.v.). It was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, or perhaps rather a plate of solid gold, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 broad (Exodus 25:17; 30:6; 31:7). It is compared to the throne of grace (Hebrews 9:5; Ephesians 2:6). The holy of holies is called the "place of the mercy-seat" (1 Chronicles 28:11- Leviticus 16:2).

It has been conjectured that the censer (thumiaterion, meaning "anything having regard to or employed in the burning of incense") mentioned in Hebrews 9:4 was the "mercy-seat," at which the incense was burned by the high priest on the great day of atonement, and upon or toward which the blood of the goat was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:11-16; comp. Numbers 7:89 and Exodus 25:22).

(Exodus 25:17; 37:6; Hebrews 9:5) This appears to have been merely the lid of the ark of the covenant, not another surface affixed thereto. (It was a solid plate of gold, 2 1/2 cubits (6 1/3 feet) long by 1 1/2 cubits (2 2/3 feet) wide, representing a kind of throne of God, where he would hear prayer and from which he spoke words of comfort.

ED.) It was that whereon the blood of the yearly atonement was sprinkled by the high priest; and in this relation it is doubtful whether the sense of the word in the Hebrew is based on the material fact of its "covering" the ark, or derived from this notion of its reference to the "covering" (i.e. atonement) of sin.

Description of
Exodus 25:17-22

Placed on the ark of the testimony
Exodus 26:34; Exodus 30:6; Exodus 31:7; Exodus 40:20; Hebrews 9:5

Materials of, to be a freewill offering
Exodus 35:4-12

Made by Bezaleel
Exodus 37:1; Exodus 37:6-9

Sprinkled with blood
Leviticus 16:14-15

The shekinah upon
Exodus 25:22; Exodus 30:6; Exodus 30:36; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 7:89; Numbers 17:4; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1; Isaiah 37:16; Hebrews 4:16

In Solomon's temple
1 Chronicles 28:11
Tabernacle

MER'CY-SEAT, noun The propitiatory; the covering of the ark of the covenant among the Jews. This was of gold, and its ends were fixed to two cherubs, whose wings extended forward, and formed a kind of throne for the majesty of God, who is represented in Scripture as sitting between the cherubs. It was from this seat that God gave his oracles to Moses, or to the high priest who consulted him.