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Definition and Meaning of the Hebrew Word Hesed

The Hebrew word חֶסֶד (pronounced chesed or hesed) is a masculine noun appearing 247 times in the Hebrew Bible [1]. It carries a rich semantic range, primarily encompassing concepts of goodness, kindness, and faithfulness [2]. While often translated as "kindness," "mercy," or "lovingkindness," its full meaning is more nuanced, frequently implying covenant loyalty [3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9].

The Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon defines chesed in several ways:

  1. Kindness of humans towards humans: This refers to acts of favor and benefit, as seen in 1 Samuel 20:15 or Proverbs 19:22 [1]. For instance, it describes the kindness shown by Jonathan to David [1].
  2. Kindness, especially to the lowly, needy, and miserable: This sense emphasizes mercy, as in Proverbs 20:28 or Job 6:14. A "merciful man" is described as ish chesed (Proverbs 11:17), contrasting with a cruel person [11].
  3. Lovingkindness: This aspect is particularly prominent when describing God's character, often in the context of redemption from enemies and troubles (e.g., Genesis 19:19, Exodus 15:13, Psalm 31:17) [10]. God's chesed is depicted as abundant [12].

Chesed is frequently paired with other divine attributes, highlighting its comprehensive nature. It often appears alongside אֱמֶת (emet), meaning "truth" or "fidelity," forming the phrase "kindness and fidelity" (e.g., Genesis 24:27, Psalm 25:10, Psalm 85:11) [12]. It is also grouped with צְדָקָה (tzedakah, righteousness) in Proverbs 21:21 and מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, justice) in Micah 6:8 and Hosea 12:7 [11, 12]. The combination of chesed and emet is a recurring theme, emphasizing God's unfailing love and faithfulness [18].

In some contexts, chesed can take on a more specific meaning related to covenant. For example, in Nehemiah 9:17, it is translated as "covenant loyalty" [3]. This understanding is crucial for grasping God's relationship with Israel, where chesed expresses His gracious treatment and lovingkindness towards His covenant nation [15].

While the primary meaning of chesed is positive, there are rare instances where it can imply a negative connotation. Strong's Hebrew Dictionary notes that it can, by opposition, mean "reproof" or "wicked thing" [4]. The Ramban (Nachmanides) on Leviticus 20:17 interprets chesed in that context as "shame," suggesting that certain actions are so ugly that they naturally bring shame [16]. Abraham Ibn Ezra similarly suggests that in Leviticus 20:17, chesed refers to an "especially perverse evil act," contrasting with its usual meaning of an act of kindness [22]. This usage is uncommon and often requires careful contextual analysis.

It is important to distinguish chesed (H2617) from other similar-sounding Hebrew words. For instance, חֶסֶד (H2618) can also refer to a personal name, "Chesed," an Israelite [13]. Another distinct word is הֵידָד (hedad, H1959), which means "shout" or "shouting," often in the context of harvest or battle [14]. The Babylonian Talmud discusses hesped, which refers to a eulogy or the act of striking oneself in mourning [17, 19, 20, 21]. These are distinct terms and should not be confused with chesed.

The concept of chesed is central to understanding God's character in the Old Testament, portraying Him as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness [18]. This divine attribute is not merely an emotion but an active, loyal, and benevolent commitment, particularly within the framework of a covenant relationship.

Sources

  1. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2617] checed (part 1/5) — H2617. checed חֶ֫סֶד: 247 noun masculine2Sam 16:17 goodness, kindness; — absolute ׳ח Gen 24:12 85t.; חָ֑סֶד 39:21 12t.; construct חֶסֶד 1Sam 20:14 8t.; suffix חַסְדִּי Psalm 59:18 120t. suffixes; plural חֲסָדִים Gen 32:11; construct חַסֵדֵי Isa 55:3 5t. (BaerJes p. 79 Ges§ 93, R, 1. F.); suffix חֲסָדַי Neh 13:14 + 10t. suffixes; (not in H or P). I. of man: 1 kindness of men towards men, in doing favours and benefits 1Sam 20:15; 2Sam 16:17; Psa 141:5; Prov 19:22; 20:6; ׳ח יהוה 1Sam 20:14 the kindness of ׳י (such as he shews, Thes MV; that sworn to by oath to Yahw”
  2. STEPBible TBESG “[H2617a] H2617A = (H2617A) — goodness, kindness, faithfulness”
  3. STEPBible TAHOT “Neh.9.17#25=Q(K) — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֖סֶד [ve.che.sed] "of covenant loyalty"”
  4. Strong's Hebrew Dictionary “[H2617] חֵסֵד — Definition: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty | Derivation: from H2616 (חָסַד); | KJV usage: favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.”
  5. STEPBible TAHOT “Gen.24.12#11=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֕סֶד [Che.sed] "covenant loyalty"”
  6. STEPBible TAHOT “Psa.61.7(61.8)#05=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֥סֶד [Che.sed] "covenant loyalty"”
  7. STEPBible TAHOT “Gen.24.14#23=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֖סֶד [Che.sed] "covenant loyalty"”
  8. STEPBible TAHOT “Mic.7.18#17=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֖סֶד [Che.sed] "covenant loyalty"”
  9. STEPBible TAHOT “Hos.6.6#02=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): חֶ֥סֶד [Che.sed] "covenant loyalty"”
  10. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2617] checed (part 3/5) — He is חַסְדָּם their goodness favour Jonah 2:9; חַסְדִּי Psa 144:2; חַסְדִּי אֱלֹהֵי God of my kindness Psalm 59:18; in 59:11 read חַסְדּוֺ אֱלֹהַי my God with his kindness ᵑ9 ᵐ5 Ew Hup De Pe Che Bae; his is the kindness Psalm 62:13; it is with him 130:7; he delights in it Micah 7:18. 1 specifically lovingkindness: a. in redemption from enemies and troubles Gen 19:19; 39:21 (J), Exod 15:13 (song), Jer 31:3; Ezra 7:28; 9:9; Psa 21:8; 31:17; 31:22; 32:10; 33:22; 36:8; 36:11; 42:9; Psalm 44:27; 48:10; 59:17; 66:20; 85:8; 90:14; 94:18; 107:8; 107:15; 107:21; 107:31;”
  11. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2617] checed (part 2/5) — 2 kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy Prov 20:28; Job 6:14; חסד אישׁ merciful man Prov 11:17 (opposed to אַכְזָרִי); ח ׳מַלְכֵּי merciful kings 1Kin 20:31; ח ׳עשׂה Psa 109:16; in this sense usually with other attributes (see also below II.2); || אמת Hosea 4:1; Isa 16:5; ׳ח ואמת Prov 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28; ח ׳עשׂה ואמת Gen 24:49; 47:29; Josh 2:14 (J; RV gives thse under 1); || צדקה Hosea 10:12; וח ׳צדקה Prov 21:21; || משׁפט Micah 6:8; ׳ח ומשׁפט Hosea 12:7; || חוֺנֵן Psa 109:12; ׳ח ורחמים Zech 7:9; Dan 1:9. — (On Hosea 6:4, 6 se”
  12. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H2617] checed (part 4/5) — 2 חֶסֶד is grouped with other divine attributes: ואמת חסד kindness (lovingkindness) and fidelity Gen 24:27 (J), Psa 25:10; 41:11; 40:12; 57:4; 61:8; 85:11; 89:15; 115:1; 138:2; ח ׳עשׂה עם ואמת 2Sam 2:6; 15:20 (ᵐ5, see Dr); with אֶתֿ Gen 24:49; ח ׳רַב ואמת Exod 34:6 (JE), Psa 86:15; also || אמת Micah 7:20; Psa 26:3; 117:2; || אֱמוּנָה 88:12; 89:3; 92:3; וח ׳אמונה 89:25; ׳ח ואמונה 98:3; || רחמים 77:9; ׳ח ורחמים Jer 16:5; Hosea 2:21; Psa 103:4; ׳ח ומשׁפט Jer 9:23; Psa 101:1; || צדקה 36:11; וח ׳טוב 23:6. 3 the kindness of God is a. abundant: רַבחֶֿסֶד abundant, plente”
  13. Strong's Hebrew Dictionary “[H2618] חֶסֶד — Definition: Chesed, an Israelite | Derivation: the same as H2617 (חֵסֵד); favor; | KJV usage: Hesed.”
  14. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1959] hedad — H1959. hedad הֵידָד noun masculineIsa 16:9 shout, shouting, cheer (of a multitude; on formation compare Ol§181 a Sta§ 218 b); — ׳ה only absolute, 16:9 6t. Isaiah & Jeremiah; — 1 shouting in harvest Isa 16:10; Jer 48:33 (3 t. in verse) where הֵידָד לֹא הֵידָד חֵידָד יִדְרֹךְ לֹא, i.e. the shouting is no vineyard-shouting, but that of foe, compare below; compare 25:30 ׳י shall utter (עָנָה) a shout like the (grape-) treaders (followed by הָאָרֶץ כָּליֿשְׁבֵי אֶל). Hence also 2 shout of the foe Isa 16:9 (עַל נָפַל), Jer 51:14 (הֵידָד עָלַיִךְ וְעָנוּ); compare 25:30; 48:33 abov”
  15. 1 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Kings 3:6: 3:6 The Hebrew word translated faithful love (khesed) expresses God’s gracious treatment and loving kindness toward humanity (Ps 118:1-2), especially to his covenant nation Israel (Deut 7:9, 12).”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Leviticus 20:17: IT IS ‘CHESED.’ In the opinion of the commentators 269 Rashi and R’dak (in Sefer Hashorashim, root chesed ). chesed here means “shame,” because all people will naturally be ashamed of this ugly sin, this being used here as in the Aramaic language, for Onkelos translated, for that were ‘a disgrace’ unto us , 270 Genesis 34:14. “for that were chisudo unto us.” Yonathan ben Uziel also translated and I will lay it for ‘a reproach,’ 271 I Samuel 11:2. “[and I will lay it for] chisudo .” And in the language of the Sages [we find]: 272 Ruth Rabbah 7:11. “Becau”
  17. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Kamma 55a.7: And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: If one sees a eulogy [ hesped ] in his dream, it is an allusion that in Heaven they had pity [ ḥasu ] on him and saved him [ peda’uhu ] from actually being eulogized. The Gemara notes: This statement applies specifically when he actually saw the word: Eulogy [ hesped ], in writing.”
  18. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 86:15: 86:15 God has mercy on his people (51:1); he is gracious (25:6), slow to get angry (103:8; 145:8), and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness (Hebrew khesed and ’emeth; 143:1). This verse repeats a theme first expressed in Exod 34:7; Num 14:18 (cp. Pss 103:8; 145:8; Neh 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2).”
  19. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 58a.54:7: The Gemara continues its discussion of the halakhot of mourning: Ulla said: Although hesped usually refers to a eulogy, strictly speaking, hesped is referring to striking oneself on the heart, as it is written: “Striking [ sofedim ] the breasts” (Isaiah 32:12). The term tipuaḥ is referring to striking with one hand against the other hand, i.e., clapping. The term killus is referring to stomping with one’s foot on the ground.”
  20. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 58b.54:7: The Gemara continues its discussion of the halakhot of mourning: Ulla said: Although hesped usually refers to a eulogy, strictly speaking, hesped is referring to striking oneself on the heart, as it is written: “Striking [ sofedim ] the breasts” (Isaiah 32:12). The term tipuaḥ is referring to striking with one hand against the other hand, i.e., clapping. The term killus is referring to stomping with one’s foot on the ground.”
  21. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Moed Katan 27b.7: The Gemara continues its discussion of the halakhot of mourning: Ulla said: Although hesped usually refers to a eulogy, strictly speaking, hesped is referring to striking oneself on the heart, as it is written: “Striking [ sofedim ] the breasts” (Isaiah 32:12). The term tipuaḥ is referring to striking with one hand against the other hand, i.e., clapping. The term killus is referring to stomping with one’s foot on the ground.”
  22. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 20:17: IT IS A SHAMEFUL THING. The word chesed (shameful thing) is related to yechassedkha (revile thee) in Lest he that heareth revile thee (Prov. 25:9). Chesed hu (it is a shameful thing) means it is an inflated act of harlotry. 53 Chesed usually has the meaning of an act of kindness, which is beyond the norm. Here it means an especially perverse evil act.”
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