Lexical Summary
checed: Lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness, goodness
Original Word:חֵסֵד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:checed
Pronunciation:kheh'-sed
Phonetic Spelling:(kheh'-sed)
KJV: favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing
Word Origin:[fromH2616 (חָסַד - To be kind)]
1. kindness
2. (by implication, towards God) piety
3. (by opposition, rarely) reproof
4. (subjectively) beauty
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
favor, good deed, kindly, loving-kindness, merciful kindness, mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing
Fromchacad; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) Beauty -- favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.
see HEBREWchacad
Brown-Driver-Briggs
: 247
2Samuel 16:17 ; — absolute
Genesis 24:12 85t.;
Genesis 39:21 12t.; construct
1 Samuel 20:14 8t.; suffix
Psalm 59:18 120t. suffixes; plural
Genesis 32:11; construct
Isaiah 55:3 5t. (Baer
Jes p. 79 Ges
§ 93, R, 1. F.); suffix
Nehemiah 13:14 + 10t. suffixes; (not in H or P).
of man:
kindness of men towards men, in doing favours and benefits1 Samuel 20:15;2 Samuel 16:17;Psalm 141:5;Proverbs 19:22;Proverbs 20:6;1 Samuel 20:14the kindness of (such as he shews, Thes MV; that sworn to by oath to Yahweh Mich Dathe; shewn out of reverence to Yahweh Th Ke); compare2 Samuel 9:3;Proverbs 31:26instruction in kindness, kindly instructiondo or shew kindness (in dealing)with meGenesis 20:13;Genesis 40:14 (E),1 Samuel 20:14;2 Samuel 10:2 ( in ""1 Chronicles 19:2); withGenesis 21:23 (E),Genesis 24:12,14;Joshua 2:12 (twice in verse);Judges 1:24 (J),Judges 8:35;1 Samuel 15:6;2 Samuel 2:5;2 Samuel 3:8;2 Samuel 9:1;2 Samuel 9:3;2 Samuel 9:7, 10:20a =1 Chronicles 19:2a,1 Chronicles 19:2b 2Chronicles 24:22; with1 Samuel 20:8 with1 Kings 2:7;obtain kindness beforeEsther 2:9,17;Ruth 3:10.
kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable),mercyProverbs 20:28;Job 6:14;merciful manProverbs 11:17 (opposed to );merciful kings1 Kings 20:31;Psalm 109:16; in this sense usually with other attributes (see also below II.); ""Hosea 4:1;Isaiah 16:5;Proverbs 3:3;Proverbs 14:22;Proverbs 16:6;Proverbs 20:28;Genesis 24:49;Genesis 47:29;Joshua 2:14 (J; RV gives thse under ); ""Hosea 10:12;Proverbs 21:21; ""Micah 6:8;Hosea 12:7; ""Psalm 109:12;Zechariah 7:9;Daniel 1:9. — (OnHosea 6:4,6 see below)
(rarely)affection if Israel tolove to God, piety:Jeremiah 2:2priety of thy youth (""love of thine espousals to Yahweh); possibly alsoHosea 6:4your piety is like a morning cloud (fleeting), andHosea 6:6for piety I delight in and not in peace-offering ("" , compare1 Samuel 15:22); — so Wü Now Hi (1Samuel 15:4) Che; Ke Hi (1 Samuel 15:6) al. below (or
); —men of pietyIsaiah 57:1 ("" ); pluralpious acts2Chronicles 32:32; 35:26;Nehemiah 13:14.
lovely appearance:Isaiah 40:6all its loveliness as the flower of the field (so Thes Hi De Che Di and others; but 1Peter 1:24 &gloria favour an original reading Lo or Ew, see BrMP 375; Du ).
of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescendig to the needs of his creatures. He istheir goodness favourJonah 2:9;Psalm 144:2;God of my kindnessPsalm 59:18; inPsalm 59:11 readmy God with his kindness Ew Hup De Pe Che Bae; his is the kindnessPsalm 62:13; it is with himPsalm 130:7; he delights in itMicah 7:18.
specifically lovingkindness:
in redemption from enemies and troublesGenesis 19:19;Genesis 39:21 (J),Exodus 15:13 (song),Jeremiah 31:3;Ezra 7:28;Ezra 9:9;Psalm 21:8;Psalm 31:17;Psalm 31:22;Psalm 32:10;Psalm 33:22;Psalm 36:8;Psalm 36:11;Psalm 42:9;Psalm 44:27;Psalm 48:10;Psalm 59:17;Psalm 66:20;Psalm 85:8;Psalm 90:14;Psalm 94:18;Psalm 107:8;Psalm 107:15;Psalm 107:21;Psalm 107:31;Psalm 143:8;Psalm 143:12;Job 37:13;Ruth 1:8;Ruth 2:20; men should trust in itPsalm 13:6;Psalm 52:10; rejoice in itPsalm 31:8; hope in itPsalm 33:18;Psalm 147:11.
in preservation of life from deathPsalm 6:5;Psalm 86:13;Job 10:12.
in quickening of spiritual lifePsalm 109:26;Psalm 119:41;Psalm 119:76;Psalm 119:88;Psalm 119:124;Psalm 119:149;Psalm 119:159.
in redemption from sinPsalm 25:7;Psalm 51:3.
in keeping the covenants, with AbrahamMicah 7:20; with Moses and Israelkeep-eth the covenant and the lovingkindnessDeuteronomy 7:9,12;1 Kings 8:23 2Chronicles 6:14;Nehemiah 1:5;Nehemiah 9:32;Daniel 9:4; with David and his dynasty2 Samuel 7:15 =1 Chronicles 17:13;2 Samuel 22:51 =Psalm 18:51,1 Kings 3:6 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 1:8;Psalm 89:29;Psalm 89:34; with the wife ZionIsaiah 54:10.
is grouped with other divine attributes:kindness (lovingkindness) andfidelityGenesis 24:27 (J),Psalm 25:10;Psalm 41:11;Psalm 40:12;Psalm 57:4;Psalm 61:8;Psalm 85:11;Psalm 89:15;Psalm 115:1;Psalm 138:2;2 Samuel 2:6;2 Samuel 15:20 (, see Dr); withGenesis 24:49;Exodus 34:6 (JE),Psalm 86:15; also ""Micah 7:20;Psalm 26:3;Psalm 117:2; ""Psalm 88:12;Psalm 89:3;Psalm 92:3;Psalm 89:25;Psalm 98:3; ""Psalm 77:9;Jeremiah 16:5;Hosea 2:21;Psalm 103:4;Jeremiah 9:23;Psalm 101:1; ""Psalm 36:11;Psalm 23:6.
the kindness of God is
abundant:abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness)Numbers 14:18 (J),Nehemiah 9:17 (Qr),Joel 2:13;Jonah 4:2;Psalm 86:5;Psalm 103:8 (compareExodus 34:6 J E;Psalm 86:15);Nehemiah 13:22;Psalm 5:8;Psalm 69:14;Psalm 106:7 ( Aq Targan, to be preferred to );Lamentations 3:32;Psalm 106:45 (Kt in both to be preferred).
great in extent:greatness of thy mercyNumbers 14:19 (J);Psalm 145:8; it is kept for thousandsExodus 34:7 (JE),Jeremiah 32:18, especially of those connected with lovers of ,Exodus 20:6 =Deuteronomy 5:10; for 1000 GenerationsDeuteronomy 7:9; it is great as the heavensPsalm 57:11;Psalm 103:11, comparePsalm 36:6;Psalm 108:5; the earth is full of itPsalm 33:5;Psalm 119:64.
everlasting:Jeremiah 33:11;1 Chronicles 16:34,41; 2Chronicles 5:13; 7:3,6; 20:21;Ezra 3:11;Psalm 100:5;Psalm 106:1;Psalm 107:1;Psalm 118:1;Psalm 118:2;Psalm 118:3;Psalm 118:4;Psalm 118:29;Psalm 136:1 (26 t.);Psalm 138:8;Psalm 103:17;Isaiah 54:8;Psalm 52:3.
good:Psalm 69:17;Psalm 109:21;Psalm 63:4.
pluralmercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness to Israel: shewn to JacobGenesis 32:11 (R); but mostly lateIsaiah 63:7;Psalm 25:6;Psalm 89:2;Isaiah 63:7, see
; Isa 89:50;mercies to DavidIsaiah 55:3; 2Chronicles 6:42;mercies in GeneralLamentations 3:22;Psalm 17:7;Psalm 107:43f. — in proper name, masculine see below . OnLeviticus 20:17;Proverbs 14:34 see below II. .
II. , only absolute: —Leviticus 20:17 (H)it is a shame (shameful thing);Proverbs 14:34sin is a reproach to peoples.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewחֵסֵד (chesed) saturates the Hebrew Scriptures as the hallmark of God’s covenantal character and the standard for covenantal response among His people. Frequently rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as “loving devotion,” it combines steadfast loyalty, mercy, kindness, and relational faithfulness. Of its approximately 247 occurrences, over half lie in the Psalms, yet it shapes every major section of the Old Testament, from the Torah to the Post-Exilic books.
Canonical Distribution and Emphases
• Torah: Foundational statements bind חֵסֵד to Yahweh’s covenant name (Exodus 20:6;Exodus 34:6-7;Deuteronomy 7:9).
• Historical Books: Demonstrated in redeemed action—Rahab’s plea (Joshua 2:12), Jonathan and David’s pact (1 Samuel 20:14-15), and David’s care for Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1).
• Writings: Psalms and Proverbs elevate חֵסֵד in worship and wisdom (Psalm 136;Proverbs 3:3-4).
• Prophets: Contrast divine constancy with Israel’s infidelity and anticipate restoration (Hosea 2:19;Micah 7:18-20).
Covenantal Dimensions
1. Divine Self-Revelation: God defines His nature by חֵסֵד—“abounding in loving devotion and truth” (Exodus 34:6).
2. Covenant Maintenance: חֵסֵד secures promises to the patriarchs (Genesis 24:12), safeguards Israel from annihilation after the golden calf (Exodus 34:9), and preserves the Davidic throne (2 Samuel 7:15).
3. Conditional Continuance: Persistent rebellion forfeits experienced חֵסֵד without nullifying God’s faithfulness (Hosea 4:1-3).
Liturgical and Devotional Usage
Psalms fuse praise with petition:
• Celebration—“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
• Confidence—“Surely goodness and loving devotion will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).
• Penitence—“According to Your loving devotion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).
The recurring refrain trains worshipers to expect God’s unfailing loyalty and to ground hope in His unchanging character.
Interpersonal Expressions
חֵסֵד regulates social ethics:
• Family and Covenant Partners: Ruth’s fidelity to Naomi (Ruth 1:8).
• Royal Administration: David’s political mercy (2 Samuel 2:5-6).
• Everyday Conduct: “Do not let loving devotion and faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck” (Proverbs 3:3).
When people embody חֵסֵד, they mirror God’s own conduct, integrating vertical devotion with horizontal service.
Prophetic Messaging and Eschatological Hope
Prophets indict Israel’s absence of חֵסֵד (Hosea 6:4) while promising future restoration: “I will betroth you to Me forever with loving devotion and compassion” (Hosea 2:19). Micah anchors final salvation in God’s unalterable pledge: “You will show loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers” (Micah 7:20). Thus, חֵסֵד becomes the bridge between judgment and renewal.
Christological Fulfillment
Though חֵסֵד is a Hebrew term, its substance converges in Jesus Christ, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The incarnation manifests the covenant loyalty promised in the Old Testament; the cross confirms unmerited mercy; the resurrection guarantees enduring steadfast love to all who believe. New Testament terms such as χάρις (grace) and ἔλεος (mercy) echo the depth of חֵסֵד, uniting the Testaments in a single redemptive storyline.
Practical and Pastoral Implications
• Assurance: Believers rest in God’s immovable loving devotion amid personal failure and cultural upheaval.
• Imitation: Churches cultivate ministries of mercy, hospitality, and justice, reflecting God’s covenant character.
• Evangelism: The global proclamation of the gospel extends the invitation to experience divine חֵסֵד through Christ.
• Perseverance: Meditating on Scriptures where חֵסֵד anchors hope fortifies endurance in trials.
Key References
Genesis 24:27;Exodus 34:6;Deuteronomy 7:9;Joshua 2:12;1 Samuel 20:14-15;2 Samuel 7:15;2 Samuel 9:7;1 Kings 3:6;1 Chronicles 16:34;Psalm 23:6;Psalm 25:10;Psalm 31:7;Psalm 33:18;Psalm 36:7;Psalm 51:1;Psalm 57:10;Psalm 89:14;Psalm 94:18;Psalm 103:11;Psalm 136;Proverbs 3:3-4;Isaiah 54:8;Jeremiah 31:3;Lamentations 3:22;Hosea 2:19;Hosea 6:6;Micah 7:18-20;Zechariah 7:9.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּחֶ֣סֶד בְּחַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בְחֶֽסֶד־ בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ בְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ בַּחֶ֙סֶד֙ בַּחֶ֣סֶד בחסד בחסד־ בחסדך בחסדך׃ הַחֲסָדִים֙ הַחֶ֑סֶד הַחֶ֔סֶד הַחֶ֖סֶד הַחֶ֙סֶד֙ הַחֶ֣סֶד הַחֶ֤סֶד החסד החסדים וְ֝חַסְדּ֗וֹ וְ֭חַסְדִּי וְֽהַחֶ֔סֶד וְהַחֶ֗סֶד וְהַחֶסֶד֒ וְחֶ֖סֶד וְחֶ֣סֶד וְחֶ֤סֶד וְחֶ֥סֶד וְחַסְדְּכֶם֙ וְחַסְדִּ֖י וְחַסְדִּ֞י וְחַסְדִּ֣י וְחַסְדִּי֙ וַחֲסָדֶ֑יךָ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו וָ֭חֶסֶד וָחֶ֔סֶד וָחֶ֛סֶד וָחֶ֣סֶד וָחָ֑סֶד וּֽבְחַסְדְּךָ֮ וּבְחֶ֖סֶד וּבְחֶ֥סֶד ובחסד ובחסדך והחסד וחסד וחסדו וחסדי וחסדיו וחסדיך וחסדכם חֲ֭סָדֶיךָ חֲסָדֶ֑יךָ חֲסָדֶ֖יךָ חֲסָדֶ֣ךָ חֲסָדַ֗י חֲסָדָֽיו׃ חֶ֔סֶד חֶ֕סֶד חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ חֶ֖סֶד חֶ֗סֶד חֶ֙סֶד֙ חֶ֛סֶד חֶ֜סֶד חֶ֝֗סֶד חֶ֡סֶד חֶ֣סֶד חֶ֣סֶד ׀ חֶ֤סֶד חֶ֥סֶד חֶ֧סֶד חֶ֨סֶד ׀ חֶֽסֶד־ חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ חַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ חַ֭סְדְּךָ חַֽסְדֵ֣י חַֽסְדֵ֤י חַֽסְדֵ֥י חַֽסְדֵ֨י חַסְֽדֶּ֑ךָ חַסְדְּךָ֖ חַסְדְּךָ֗ חַסְדְּךָ֛ חַסְדְּךָ֣ חַסְדְּךָ֥ חַסְדִּ֑י חַסְדִּ֥י חַסְדִּֽי׃ חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ חַסְדֶּךָ֮ חַסְדָּ֖ם חַסְדּ֑וֹ חַסְדּ֔וֹ חַסְדּ֖וֹ חַסְדּ֗וֹ חַסְדּ֛וֹ חַסְדּ֥וֹ חַסְדּ֨וֹ ׀ חַסְדִּ֣י חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ חָ֑סֶד חָ֥סֶד חָֽסֶד׃ חסד חסד־ חסד׃ חסדו חסדו׃ חסדי חסדי׃ חסדיו׃ חסדיך חסדך חסדך׃ חסדם כְּֽחַסְדְּךָ֥ כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְחַסְדֶּ֗ךָ כְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ כַּחֶ֜סֶד כחסד כחסדך כחסדך׃ לְ֝חֶ֗סֶד לְחֶ֖סֶד לְחַֽסְדֵ֖י לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃ לחסד לחסדו׃ לחסדי ba·ḥe·seḏ baChesed baḥeseḏ bə·ḥas·de·ḵā bə·ḥas·də·ḵā ḇə·ḥas·de·ḵā ḇə·ḥas·də·ḵā bə·ḥe·seḏ ḇə·ḥe·seḏ- bechasdeCha beChesed bəḥasdeḵā bəḥasdəḵā ḇəḥasdeḵā ḇəḥasdəḵā bəḥeseḏ ḇəḥeseḏ- chasaDai chasaDav chasaDecha Chasadeicha chasDam chasDech chasdeCha chasDei chasDi chasDo Chased chechasDecha Chesed ha·ḥă·sā·ḏîm ha·ḥe·seḏ ḥă·sā·ḏāw ḥă·sā·ḏay ḥă·sā·ḏe·ḵā ḥā·seḏ hachasaDim haChesed haḥăsāḏîm haḥeseḏ ḥas·dām ḥas·ḏê ḥas·de·ḵā ḥas·də·ḵā ḥas·dêḵ ḥas·dî ḥas·dōw ḥăsāḏāw ḥăsāḏay ḥăsāḏeḵā ḥasdām ḥasḏê ḥasdêḵ ḥasdeḵā ḥasdəḵā ḥasdî ḥasdōw ḥāseḏ ḥe·seḏ ḥe·seḏ- ḥeseḏ ḥeseḏ- ka·ḥe·seḏ kaChesed kaḥeseḏ kə·ḥas·de·ḵā kə·ḥas·də·ḵā ḵə·ḥas·de·ḵā kechasdeCha kəḥasdeḵā kəḥasdəḵā ḵəḥasdeḵā lə·ḥas·ḏê lə·ḥas·dōw lə·ḥe·seḏ lechasDei lechasDo leChesed ləḥasḏê ləḥasdōw ləḥeseḏ ū·ḇə·ḥas·də·ḵā ū·ḇə·ḥe·seḏ ūḇəḥasdəḵā ūḇəḥeseḏ uvechasdeCha uveChesed vachasaDav vachasaDeicha vaChased vaChesed vechasdeCha vechasdeChem vechasDi vechasDo vechesed vehaChesed wa·ḥă·sā·ḏāw wa·ḥă·sā·ḏe·ḵā wā·ḥā·seḏ wā·ḥe·seḏ waḥăsāḏāw waḥăsāḏeḵā wāḥāseḏ wāḥeseḏ wə·ha·ḥe·seḏ wə·ḥas·də·ḵem wə·ḥas·dî wə·ḥas·dōw wə·ḥe·seḏ wəhaḥeseḏ wəḥasdəḵem wəḥasdî wəḥasdōw wəḥeseḏ
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