Compassionate; is the literal translation of the Hebrew RaHooM. Empathizing is a quality of RaHoom, showing that our Heavenly Father feels your pain when you are hurting. Merciful is the traditional translation of RaHooM in Exodus 34 although in Hebrew Mercy is RaHaManoot, so you can see the connection to RaHooM and to the Hebrew idiom of Mercy which means to Forgive. This idiom is seen often in the Gospels with someone who needs a healing calling to Y’shua, “Have mercy on me.” The person needing the healing is actually asking for forgiveness. See Teachings in Companion Vol. II for more on Compassion.