Bible Verses About Mercy

Mercy is God withholding the judgment we deserve and giving compassion instead. These verses about mercy reveal a God rich in compassion.

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” — Psalm 103:8 (KJV)

Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, plenteous in mercy — David is quoting God's own self-description to Moses. The line is repeated across the Old Testament like a creed.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” — Micah 6:8 (KJV)

To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly is the prophet's answer to a question about sacrifices. Mercy is something to love, not merely to perform.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 (KJV)

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy — the reward matches the behaviour exactly. It appears in a list addressed to people with no power.

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” — Luke 6:36 (KJV)

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful, follows the command to love enemies. The standard given is a person rather than a rule.

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” — Psalm 86:5 (KJV)

Good, ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy unto all them that call — readiness is the operative word. It answers the fear of approaching at the wrong moment.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” — Ephesians 2:4 (KJV)

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us — mercy is introduced after two verses about being dead in sins. The pivot is the word But.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” — Psalm 51:1 (KJV)

David's prayer after Bathsheba and Uriah asks for mercy according to God's lovingkindness, not according to his own case. He offers no mitigation.

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” — Psalm 145:8 (KJV)

Gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, of great mercy — a psalm arranged as an alphabet acrostic. The praise is deliberately systematic.

“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” — Luke 1:50 (KJV)

His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation, sung by a pregnant teenager. Mary places her situation inside a long inheritance.

“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;” — Daniel 9:9 (KJV)

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled — the concession is made in the same breath. Daniel prays in the first person plural for a nation's guilt.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” — Psalm 23:6 (KJV)

Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life — follow is a pursuing verb. The shepherd psalm ends with mercy behind as well as ahead.

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

Mercy rejoiceth against judgment, written to a congregation showing favouritism to the rich. The warning is that judgment without mercy is what awaits the merciless.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” — Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)

Let the wicked forsake his way and return, for he will abundantly pardon — abundantly is the prophet's word. The invitation is issued to the guilty specifically.

“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.” — Psalm 130:7 (KJV)

With the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption, in a psalm that opened from the depths. Plenteous answers the fear that mercy may run short.

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13 (KJV)

God be merciful to me a sinner, prayed by a tax collector who would not lift his eyes. Jesus says this man went home justified rather than the Pharisee.

“Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.” — Psalm 25:6 (KJV)

Remember thy tender mercies, for they have been ever of old — the plea asks God to recall his own history. Memory is used as leverage in prayer.

“Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.” — Nehemiah 9:31 (KJV)

Thou didst not utterly consume them — said in a national confession reciting centuries of failure. Mercy is measured by what did not happen.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about mercy?

The 17 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on mercy: Psalm 103:8, Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7, Luke 6:36, Psalm 86:5, Ephesians 2:4, Psalm 51:1, Psalm 145:8, Luke 1:50, Daniel 9:9, Psalm 23:6, James 2:13, Isaiah 55:7, Psalm 130:7, Luke 18:13, Psalm 25:6, Nehemiah…

What is a good Bible verse about mercy?

Psalm 103:8 is the passage most often quoted on mercy, with Micah 6:8 and Matthew 5:7 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these mercy verses?

You can read all of these verses about mercy — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.