Original Word: חֵסֵד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: checed
Pronunciation: kheh'-sed
Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-sed)
Definition: Lovingkindness, mercy, steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness, goodness
Meaning: kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָסַד (chasad), which conveys the idea of kindness or love.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G1656 (ἔλεος, eleos): Often translated as "mercy" or "compassion."

- G5544 (χρηστότης, chrēstotēs): Translated as "kindness" or "goodness."

Usage: The Hebrew word "checed" is a rich and multifaceted term that encompasses the ideas of love, kindness, mercy, and loyalty. It is often used to describe God's covenantal love and faithfulness towards His people. In human relationships, it can refer to acts of kindness and loyalty that go beyond duty or obligation. "Checed" is a central theme in the Hebrew Bible, reflecting the character of God as compassionate and faithful.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, "checed" was a significant concept in covenantal relationships. Covenants were binding agreements that required loyalty and faithfulness from both parties. "Checed" was the expected behavior within these relationships, emphasizing steadfast love and mercy. In Israel's history, God's "checed" was seen in His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel, despite their frequent unfaithfulness.

חֶ֫סֶד: 247 noun masculine^{2Samuel 16:17} goodness, kindness; — absolute ׳ח Genesis 24:12 85t.; חָ֑סֶד Genesis 39:21 12t.; construct חֶסֶד 1 Samuel 20:14 8t.; suffix חַסְדִּי Psalm 59:18 120t. suffixes; plural חֲסָדִים Genesis 32:11; construct חַסֵדֵי Isaiah 55:3 5t. (Baer^{Jes p. 79} Ges^{§ 93}, R, 1. F.); suffix חֲסָדַי Nehemiah 13:14 + 10t. suffixes; (not in H or P).

I. of man:

1 kindness of men towards men, in doing favours and benefits 1 Samuel 20:15; 2 Samuel 16:17; Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 19:22; Proverbs 20:6; יהוה ׳ח 1 Samuel 20:14 the kindness of ׳י (such as he shews, Thes MV; that sworn to by oath to Yahweh Mich Dathe; shewn out of reverence to Yahweh Th Ke); compare אלהים ׳ח 2 Samuel 9:3; ׳תּוֺרַתאח Proverbs 31:26 instruction in kindness, kindly instruction עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִמָּדִי do or shew kindness (in dealing) with me Genesis 20:13; Genesis 40:14 (E), 1 Samuel 20:14; 2 Samuel 10:2 (עִמִּי in "" 1 Chronicles 19:2); with עִם Genesis 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; with עַל 1 Samuel 20:8 with לְ 1 Kings 2:7; לפני ׳נשׂא ח obtain kindness before Esther 2:9,17; ׳היטיב ח Ruth 3:10.

2 kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy Proverbs 20:28; Job 6:14; אישׁ חסד merciful man Proverbs 11:17 (opposed to אַכְזָרִי); ׳מַלְכֵּי ח merciful kings 1 Kings 20:31; ׳עשׂה ח Psalm 109:16; in this sense usually with other attributes (see also below II.2); "" אמת Hosea 4:1; Isaiah 16:5; ואמת ׳ח Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 14:22; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 20:28; ואמת ׳עשׂה ח Genesis 24:49; Genesis 47:29; Joshua 2:14 (J; RV gives thse under 1); "" צדקה Hosea 10:12; ׳צדקה וח Proverbs 21:21; "" משׁפט Micah 6:8; ומשׁפט ׳ח Hosea 12:7; "" חוֺנֵן Psalm 109:12; ורחמים ׳ח Zechariah 7:9; Daniel 1:9. — (On Hosea 6:4,6 see 3 below)

3 (rarely) affection if Israel to ׳י love to God, piety: נְעוּרַיִךְ ׳ח Jeremiah 2:2 priety of thy youth ("" love of thine espousals to Yahweh); possibly also חַסְדְּכֶם כַּעֲנַןבֹּֿקֶר Hosea 6:4 your piety is like a morning cloud (fleeting), and כִּי חֶסֶד חָפַצְתִּי וְלאֹזָֿ֑בַח Hosea 6:6 for piety I delight in and not in peace-offering ("" דעת אלהים, compare 1 Samuel 15:22); — so Wü Now Hi (1Samuel 15:4) Che; Ke Hi (1 Samuel 15:6) al. below 2 (or

1); — נַנְשֵׁי חֶסֶד men of piety Isaiah 57:1 ("" צַדִּיק); plural pious acts2Chronicles 32:32; 35:26; Nehemiah 13:14.

4 lovely appearance: כָּלחַֿסְדּוֺ כְּצִיץ הַשָֹּׁדֶה Isaiah 40:6 all its loveliness as the flower of the field (so Thes Hi De Che Di and others; but δόξα ᵐ51Peter 1:24 & gloria ᵑ9 favour an original reading הוֺדוֺ Lo or כְּבֹדוֺ Ew, see Br^{MP 375}; Du הֲדָרוֺ).

II. of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescendig to the needs of his creatures. He is חַסְדָּם their goodness favour Jonah 2:9; חַסְדִּי Psalm 144:2; אֱלֹהֵי חַסְדִּי God of my kindness Psalm 59:18; in Psalm 59:11 read אֱלֹהַי חַסְדּוֺ my God with his kindness ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Ew Hup De Pe Che Bae; his is the kindness Psalm 62:13; it is with him Psalm 130:7; he delights in it Micah 7:18.

1 specifically lovingkindness:

a. in redemption from enemies and troubles Genesis 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 it Psalm 13:6; Psalm 52:10; rejoice in it Psalm 31:8; hope in it Psalm 33:18; Psalm 147:11.

b. in preservation of life from death Psalm 6:5; Psalm 86:13; Job 10:12.

c. in quickening of spiritual life Psalm 109:26; Psalm 119:41; Psalm 119:76; Psalm 119:88; Psalm 119:124; Psalm 119:149; Psalm 119:159.

d. in redemption from sin Psalm 25:7; Psalm 51:3.

e. in keeping the covenants, with Abraham Micah 7:20; with Moses and Israel שׁמר הַבְּרִית וְ(הַ)חֶסֶד keep-eth the covenant and the lovingkindness Deuteronomy 7:9,12; 1 Kings 8:23 2Chronicles 6:14; Nehemiah 1:5; Nehemiah 9:32; Daniel 9:4; with David and his dynasty 2 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 Zion Isaiah 54:10.

2 חֶסֶד is grouped with other divine attributes: חסד ואמת kindness (lovingkindness) and fidelity Genesis 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; ואמת עם ׳עשׂה ח 2 Samuel 2:6; 2 Samuel 15:20 (ᵐ5, see Dr); with אֶתֿ Genesis 24:49; ואמת ׳רַב ח Exodus 34:6 (JE), Psalm 86:15; also "" אמת Micah 7:20; Psalm 26:3; Psalm 117:2; "" אֱמוּנָה Psalm 88:12; Psalm 89:3; Psalm 92:3; ׳אמונה וח Psalm 89:25; ואמונה ׳ח Psalm 98:3; "" רחמים Psalm 77:9; ורחמים ׳ח Jeremiah 16:5; Hosea 2:21; Psalm 103:4; ומשׁפט ׳ח Jeremiah 9:23; Psalm 101:1; "" צדקה Psalm 36:11; ׳טוב וח Psalm 23:6.

3 the kindness of God is

a. abundant: רַבחֶֿסֶד 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 (compare Exodus 34:6 J E; Psalm 86:15); רֹב חַסְדְּךָ Nehemiah 13:22; Psalm 5:8; Psalm 69:14; Psalm 106:7 (ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Aq Targan, to be preferred to ᵑ0 חֲסָדֶיךָ); רֹב חֲסָדָו֯ Lamentations 3:32; Psalm 106:45 (Kt ᵐ5 in both to be preferred).

b. great in extent: ׳נֹּדֶל חִ greatness of thy mercy Numbers 14:19 (J); ׳נְּדָו֯וֺלחֿ Psalm 145:8; it is kept for thousands Exodus 34:7 (JE), Jeremiah 32:18, especially of those connected with lovers of ׳י, Exodus 20:6 = Deuteronomy 5:10; for 1000 Generations Deuteronomy 7:9; it is great as the heavens Psalm 57:11; Psalm 103:11, compare Psalm 36:6; Psalm 108:5; the earth is full of it Psalm 33:5; Psalm 119:64.

c. everlasting: לעולם חסדוֺ 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.); חסדךָ לעולם Psalm 138:8; מעולם ׳ח ועד עולם Psalm 103:17; עולם ׳ח Isaiah 54:8; אל כּל ׳ח היום Psalm 52:3.

d. good: כִּיטֿוֺב חַסְדְּךָ Psalm 69:17; Psalm 109:21; כי טוב חסדךָ מחיים Psalm 63:4.

4 plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness to Israel: shewn to Jacob Genesis 32:11 (R); but mostly late Isaiah 63:7; Psalm 25:6; Psalm 89:2; כְּרֹב חסִדיו Isaiah 63:7, see

3a; promised in the Davidic covenant Psalm Isa 89:50; חַסְדֵי דָוִיד mercies to David Isaiah 55:3; 2Chronicles 6:42; mercies in General Lamentations 3:22; Psalm 17:7; Psalm 107:43f. — חֶסֶד in proper name, masculine ׳בןחֿ see below בֵּן. On Leviticus 20:17; Proverbs 14:34 see חֶסֶד below II. חסד.

II. חֶ֫סֶד noun masculine shame, reproach, only absolute: — הוּא ׳ח Leviticus 20:17 (H) it is a shame (shameful thing); לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת ׳ח Proverbs 14:34 sin is a reproach to peoples.

favor, good deed, kindly, loving-kindness, merciful kindness, mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing

From chacad; 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 HEBREW chacad

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 wəḥeseḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts