with the believers: that is, with them and not with others.
Rauʾūf: possessed of profound compassion.
Raḥīm: possessed of abundant mercy.

Overall meaning of the verse: The Almighty, as an act of grace, informs His servants that He has raised up among them a magnificent Messenger—one of their own kind, speaking their own tongue—so that whatever troubles them weighs heavily upon him, and whatever harms them pains him. He is intensely eager for their guidance and for securing every benefit for them, and he is especially compassionate and merciful toward the believers among them.

Connection of the verse to this chapter: The qualities attributed here to the Prophet ﷺ require that he must have warned his community and cautioned them against shirk, the gravest of sins, for that is the supreme aim of his mission.

Lessons derived from the verse:

1. The Messenger ﷺ warned his ummah against shirk, kept them far from it, and blocked every path that might lead to it.
2. The verse draws attention to Allah’s favor upon His servants in sending this noble Messenger to them and in making him one of them.
3. It praises the Prophet’s lineage ﷺ: he is a pure-blooded Arab of the noblest house and pedigree.
4. It highlights his tenderness and mercy toward the believers.
5. It provides evidence of his firmness and severity toward the disbelievers and the hypocrites.