The Hebrew word hesed is an important concept in the Bible that refers to God’s lovingkindness, mercy, grace, and compassion. It is a multi-faceted word that conveys the idea of steadfast, faithful, covenant love. Here is an in-depth look at the meaning and significance of hesed in the Bible:
Definitions and Translations of Hesed
The Hebrew word hesed (also spelled chesed or hesed) is most often translated in English as “lovingkindness,” “mercy,” “grace,” “compassion,” or “steadfast love.” It comes from the root word hasad, which means “to be good” or “show favor.” Some key definitions include:
– Steadfast, loyal love based on covenant relationship
– Faithful commitment arising from relationship
– Love, mercy, grace, compassion in action
– Zealous affection and kindness
– Loyal love and gracious care
Hesed conveys the idea of going beyond what duty requires and lavishing unexpected favors on others simply because you care for them. It is love freely given, not earned or deserved. The related adjective hasid means one who practices hesed and is pious, kind, and faithful.
Some of the major English Bible translations render hesed as:
– Lovingkindness (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV)
– Steadfast love (RSV, NRSV, NIV)
– Love (NLT, CEB, NET)
– Loyal love (HCSB)
– Mercy (NAB)
– Compassion (MSG)
So while English has difficulty capturing the full meaning in a single word, hesed encompasses love, mercy, grace, kindness, faithfulness, and compassion.
Characteristics of Hesed
The kind of covenant love conveyed by hesed has several distinctive characteristics:
– It is voluntary – given freely, not out of obligation or compulsion
– It is steadfast and enduring – loyal despite flaws or circumstances
– It originates from within as a choice – an act of the will
– It is active more than emotional – love in action, not just feelings
– It is mutual and reciprocal – though imbalanced between God and man
– It is based on relationship – built on shared history and commitment
Hesed love is willing, committed, enduring, active, balanced, and connective. It goes the extra mile and sticks around through thick and thin. Hesed perseveres, forgives, hopes, and believes the best about the beloved.
Hesed and Covenant
In the Bible, hesed is tied to the idea of covenant. God establishes covenants with His people and demonstrates His hesed love in fulfilling promises connected to those covenants. Examples include:
– God’s covenant with Abraham to make his descendants a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3)
– The Mosaic covenant offering blessings for obedience (Exodus 19:5-6)
– The Davidic covenant promising an everlasting dynasty (2 Samuel 7:8-16)
– The New Covenant instituted by Jesus (Luke 22:20)
These covenants reveal God’s hesed nature. Despite humans breaking covenant stipulations, God remains faithful and merciful. His hesed causes Him to patiently pursue people and keep His promises.
Hesed and Relationship
Hesed love flourishes in the context of relationship and shared history. God reveals His lovingkindness over time in His dealings with people. The more they experience His faithful care, the more they appreciate His hesed love.
For example, the Israelites wandering in the wilderness saw God provide manna, quail, and water despite their grumbling and sin. Their history with Him demonstrated His gracious provision and patience.
Similarly, our relationships with others are built up over time as we walk through life together. Spouses, family, and friends show hesed love as they patiently extend care, affection, and forgiveness through the ups and downs.
Hesed and Salvation
God’s greatest display of hesed is through providing salvation and redemption. Humans broke covenant with God through sin and rebellion. But God in His mercy pursued people and made a way to restore the relationship through the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Verses speaking of hesed in the context of salvation include:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
“Praise the Lord! For he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy…Therefore I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.” (Psalm 109:21, 30)
God’s gracious salvation springs from His steadfast love and mercy, not human merit. He delights in blessing people with redemption despite their sin and failures.
Hesed and Forgiveness
Closely related to salvation is the characteristic of forgiveness. Hesed moves God to repeatedly wipe the slate clean when people repent and return to Him. Examples include:
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15)
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…’” (Exodus 34:6)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy…” (Psalm 103:2-4)
God repeatedly forgave Israel’s sins and rebellion, displaying incredible hesed. His mercies are “new every morning” as Lamentations 3:22-23 says. We can have confidence in God’s endless supply of forgiveness.
Hesed and Loyalty
The loyalty aspect of hesed means God remains true to His promises no matter what. People and circumstances may change, but God’s steadfast love endures forever. He is loyal to His own nature and character.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” (Psalm 103:17)
Though we are faithless, God remains faithful. His covenant loyalty never falters. His steadfast love stretches to a thousand generations.
Hesed and Justice
At times God’s hesed love seems in tension with His justice and judgment. But in reality, they balance each other perfectly as expressions of His character. Hesed causes Him to relent from strict justice, while justice prevents cheap grace.
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:6-7)
God’s hesed ensures people have opportunity to repent. But impenitent sin still carries consequences. God’s gracious love never overrides or minimizes His truth and holiness.
Hesed and the Psalms
The book of Psalms contains more references to hesed love than any other book of the Bible. Two key examples are:
Psalm 136 repeats the refrain “His hesed endures forever” 26 times. The Psalm recounts God’s loyal love shown throughout history in creating the world, delivering Israel from Egypt, giving the Promised Land, and providing sustenance.
Psalm 119, the longest Psalm, frequently mentions God’s salvation, mercy, grace, and faithfulness. Verses 41-48 especially focus on the Psalmist’s hope in God’s hesed love to overcome taunting enemies.
The frequent pairing of hesed with words like forgiveness, redemption, and salvation in the Psalms emphasizes its connection to God’s gracious salvation.
Hesed Love of Christ
Jesus Christ demonstrated hesed love throughout His life and ministry:
– He taught about showing mercy, grace, and forgiveness (Matthew 5:7, 6:14, 18:21-22)
– He had compassion on people in their weakness and suffering (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32)
– He lamented over rejecting Jerusalem like a mother hen gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37)
– He asked the Father to forgive those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34)
– He restored and commissioned Peter after his denials (John 21:15-19)
Everything Jesus did flowed from the Father’s hesed heart. His sacrifice on the cross epitomized God’s steadfast love and mercy. Jesus fulfilled the New Covenant promise of grace.
Hesed Love for One Another
If God’s hesed defines His relationship with us, it should also characterize our relationships in Christ. As 1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” We are called to show steadfast, merciful love.
Scripture gives many “one another” commands about living out hesed:
– Love one another (John 13:34-35)
– Be kindly affectionate to one another (Romans 12:10)
– Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)
– Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
– Be subject to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
– Regard others as more important than self (Philippians 2:3)
Our love and unity mirror God’s covenant love. The more we show sacrificial, merciful care, the more we reflect His grace.
Hesed and the Christian Life
God calls Christians to live by His lovingkindness and mercy. Since we have freely received grace, we freely give it. Hesed should be part of the air we breathe.
Living out hesed means:
– Pursuing intimacy with God
– Following Christ’s example of compassion
– Walking in the Spirit’s fruit of love
– Being patient and forgiving
– Sharing generously with others
– Serving the poor and needy
– Encouraging the disheartened
– Praying for others
– Speaking truth gracefully
Every thought, word, and deed can be filtered through the lens of hesed. It centers us in God’s covenant loyalty.
Conclusion
In summary, the Hebrew word hesed encapsulates God’s steadfast, faithful covenant love and mercy. Though difficult to translate perfectly into English, it conveys beautiful truths about God’s gracious salvation, forgiveness, patience, and loyalty. God’s greatest demonstration of hesed is through Christ. As God’s beloved children, we are called to reflect His compassion and forgiveness in all our relationships.