My favorite word ever is חסד, or chesed (pronounced with a guttural “ch” sound). This Hebrew word is translated into English as love, mercy, grace, favor, loyalty, loyal love, faithful love, unchanging love, unfailing love, steadfast love, loving-commitment, lovingkindness, or kindness. Yeah, I know—there’s a lot behind this word! I don’t think any single English translation can capture the true essence of what chesed really means; neither would an English reader be able to notice all the translations or forms of chesed in their Bible. That’s why we’re going to dive into its meaning now. My goal here is take you on a journey through the different elements of chesed, using the Bible as our roadmap. Let’s go!
1: Undeserved
Whether you call it love, mercy, or grace, the main theme is that we don’t deserve it. We see many times in the Bible where chesed is given to the children of Israel when they most certainly did not deserve it. Here are a few examples:
I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses (chesed) , and of all the truth, which Thou hast showed unto Thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two companies.
-Genesis 32:10
Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness (chesed), forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. Pardon, I pray Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy lovingkindness (chesed), and according as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
-Exodus 34:18-19
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness (chesed): according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
-Psalm 51:1
Here we see chesed connected to our own inadequacy, and His astounding forgiveness.
2: Unobtainable
A fundamental truth about chesed is that we cannot obtain it by ourselves, nor force it to come. Chesed is a gift—something that Jehovah (or in our first example, Joseph) chooses to give to another.
And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal in kindness (chesed) and truth with me: bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt
-Genesis 48:29
Jacob asked Joseph to bury him in Canaan, and trusted Joseph would be honest and do it. But Jacob himself could never make sure the burial happened as he wanted. He was fully reliant on Joseph’s chesed in this matter. We can plead and pray all we want, but ultimately the choice is in the hand of the gift-giver. Will he be merciful?
I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses (chesed) of Jehovah— the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses (chesed). For he said, “Surely, they are My people, children that will not deal falsely:” so He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
-Isaiah 63:7-9
The Israelites could never get themselves out of Egypt. It was only by the strength of our Savior that they were redeemed. Psalm 136 is full of these examples of chesed—things mere humans could never do or obtain.
To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For His lovingkindness (chesed) endureth forever;
And brought out Israel from among them; For His lovingkindness (chesed) endureth forever;
With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness (chesed) endureth forever:
To Him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For His lovingkindness (chesed) endureth forever;
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For His lovingkindness (chesed) endureth forever;
-Psalm 136:10-14
3: Powerful
Not only is chesed often beyond our power, but it is itself a powerful force in the hearts of those who encounter it. The most obvious and amazing example ever is the chesed given to us by Yeshua on the cross. The strength of that love is what brought Him through the excruciating pain.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins.
-1 John 4:10
This is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
-John 15:12-13
The strength of chesed can never be underestimated, and when you’ve felt it touch your heart, then you are never the same.
“For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but My lovingkindness (chesed) shall not depart from thee, neither shall My covenant of peace be removed,” saith Jehovah who hath mercy on thee.
-Isaiah 54:10
4: Loyal
Although chesed produces a change in the recipient, one of the hallmarks of chesed is that it itself doesn’t change, and remains constant throughout the years. Someone who shows you chesed is someone you can always rely on, even on your worst days. It’s the glue of the deepest friendships. This is why loyal love is one of my favorite translations for chesed.
And he said, “O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed this day, and show kindness (chesed) unto my master Abraham.”
-Genesis 24:12
Here we see Abraham’s servant asking Jehovah to show Him chesed and help him in finding the right bride for Isaac. Jehovah answered and helped, because He is loyal to His friend Abraham. The servant praises Him for it.
And he said, “Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His lovingkindness (chesed) and His truth toward my master…”
-Genesis 24:27
This loyalty between friends is seen throughout the life of David. Chesed is the reason David was generous to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan.
And the king said, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness (chesed) of God unto him?” And Ziba said unto the king, “Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame of his feet.”
-2 Samuel 9:3
There is also David’s friend Hushai, who offered to go to Absalom as a spy during the rebellion. And Absalom was suspicious, expecting that Hushai would be a loyal friend.
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, “Long live the king, Long live the king!” And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this thy kindness (chesed) to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?”
-2 Samuel 16:16-17
Also Rahab asked for chesed from the spies whom she had helped save.
“Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by Jehovah, since I have dealt kindly (chesed) with you, that ye also will deal kindly (chesed) with my father’s house, and give me a true token; and that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.” And the men said unto her, “Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business; and it shall be, when Jehovah giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly (chesed) and truly with thee.”
-Joshua 2:12-14
The spies promised to help her, and that leads us to our next description.
5: Covenantal
Chesed usually comes alongside a covenant or promise. A covenant and chesed are both an unbreakable bond between two people. One example is David and Jonathan’s amazing friendship.
“Therefore deal kindly (chesed) with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee…”
-2 Samuel 20:8
The best example of a covanental bond of chesed is a marriage covenant, such as between Jehovah and His people Israel.
“And I will betroth thee unto Me forever; I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness (chesed), and in mercies. I will betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know Jehovah.”
-Hosea 2:19-20
Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, He is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness (chesed) with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.
-Deuteronomy 7:9
Such a covenantal bond between two people cannot be broken. It marks the soul forever.
Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah.
-Song of Solomon 8:6
6: Lifegiving
A bond of chesed may well be called the force of life. It is chesed—especially the love of our Savior—that helps people rise and face another day.
It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses (chesed) that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.
For the Lord will not cast off for ever.For though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses (chesed).
-Lamentations 3:22-24, 31-32
David also commonly references this lifegiving chesed in the Psalms.
Because Thy lovingkindness (chesed) is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.
-Psalm 63:3
For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness (chesed) unto all them that call upon Thee.
-Psalm 86:5
How precious is Thy lovingkindness (chesed), O God! And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou wilt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light. Oh continue Thy lovingkindness (chesed) unto them that know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
-Psalm 36: 7-10
I will sing of the lovingkindness (chesed) of Jehovah for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, “Mercy (chesed) shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt Thou establish in the very heavens.”
-Psalm 89-1-2
This chesed is a pearl beyond price that a man would give his all to obtain (Matthew 13:45-46).
7: Immortal
Here is my favorite quality of chesed— the fact that it lasts past death. Jehovah had this type of relationship with Abraham, promising to be God to his seed forever (Genesis 17:7).
Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because He delighteth in lovingkindness (chesed). He will again have compassion upon us; He will tread our iniquities under foot; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness (chesed) to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
-Micah 7:19-20
We also see this theme of chesed throughout the story of Ruth. Ruth’s first husband had died, but she remained loyal toward her late husband’s mother and legacy.
And he said, “Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness (chesed) in the latter end than at the beginning…”
-Ruth 3:10
And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off His kindness (chesed) to the living and to the dead!”
-Ruth 2:20
David and Jonathan’s friendship was promised to last after death also.
“And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness (chesed) of Jehovah, that I may not die; but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness (chesed) from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David everyone from the face of the earth.”So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
-2 Samuel 20:14-16
Jehovah promised an immortal covenant and chesed to David and his seed.
My lovingkindness (chesed) will I keep for him for evermore; and My covenant shall stand fast with him.
But my lovingkindness (chesed) will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
-Psalm 89:28, 33
Great deliverance giveth He to His king, and showeth lovingkindness (chesed) to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.
-Psalm 18:50
Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies (chesed) of David.
-Isaiah 55:3
For Thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy kind one (chesed) to see corruption.
-Psalm 16:10
Just as David was sure that the grave would have no power, even so we are sure through Messiah that His chesed is our hope of eternal life and resurrection. May we all remain encouraged in His loyal love that is indeed better than life!
Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for He is good; for His lovingkindness is forever!
-Psalm 118:1
