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חֵסֵד

𐤇𐤎𐤃

chêçêd

H2617 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חסד to be loyal, to act kindly, to show steadfast love

Definition

A quality of steadfast, loyal love anchored in covenantal relationship, often involving acts of kindness, generosity, and reliability between parties. Also denotes unwavering commitment, faithfulness, and benevolence, especially shown by a superior towards an inferior, or reciprocally within communities. In reference to the deity of Israel, describes persistent faithfulness and benevolence towards the people of Israel. Secondary senses may include favor, goodwill, and, in rare poetic usage, the quality of being admirable or beautiful.

Semantic Range

steadfast love, loyal kindness, covenantal faithfulness, benevolence, favor, goodwill, obligation of loyalty, reliable generosity, (rare) noble quality, (rare/poetic) beauty

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חסד, which at its core conveys 'to be loyal, to act faithfully or kindly.' As a noun, חֵסֵד expresses the quality or acts associated with this disposition, focusing on enduring loyalty and kindness that surpasses obligation, particularly within a context of covenant (berith). The exact development of the root is debated, but it is distinct from simple generic 'kindness' or 'love,' and instead emphasizes steadfastness and reliability.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, חֵסֵד is central to descriptions of interpersonal obligations within family, clan, community, and, most notably, between the deity of Israel and the Israelite people. It frames both divine and human actions, especially those that fulfill or exceed the expectations of mutual agreements or covenants. Unlike generic 'mercy' or 'kindness,' חֵסֵד consistently implies faithfulness, loyalty, and a relationship-bound obligation rooted in ancient Near Eastern customs. It is often paired with 'emet' (אֱמֶת, faithfulness) or 'rachamim' (רַחֲמִים, compassion), clarifying its nuance as steadfast commitment rather than pure emotion. Its scope is broader than later rabbinic or Christian understandings of 'mercy.' In post-exilic literature and later translations, the term sometimes came to be rendered as 'mercy' or 'lovingkindness,' though both are partially reductive. The infrequent poetic uses meaning 'beauty' or, contrariwise, 'reproach' are likely the result of textual corruption or wordplay, and are not representative of the semantic core.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָסַד; 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.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חסד (ḥ-s-d) — loyalty, steadfast love, faithful kindness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1136 בֶּן־חֶסֶד steadfast covenantal loyalty
H2616 חָסַד you show yourself loyal
H2619 חֲסַדְיָה and Yahweh-has-shown-steadfast-love
H2623 חָסִיד loyal-love devotee
H2624 חֲסִידָה stork

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2617-15 חֶ֕סֶד chesed HNcmsa kindness covenant-loyal love 66
H2617-14 חַסְדּ֛/וֹ chasedo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his mercy his covenant-loyalty 58
H2617-10 חַסְדְּ/ךָ֗ chasedekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms Your lovingkindness your steadfast loyalty 35
H2617-08 חָ֑סֶד chased HNcmsa lovingkindness steadfast covenant loyalty 12
H2617-18 הַ/חֶ֔סֶד hachesed HTd/Ncmsa the lovingkindness the covenantal steadfast-love 6
H2617-34 וְ/חַסְדִּ֖/י vechasedi HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and my mercy and my steadfast loyalty 5
H2617-37 וְ/הַ/חֶ֗סֶד vehachesed HC/Td/Ncmsa and the lovingkindness and the covenant-loyal love 5
H2617-12 חַֽסְדֵ֥י chasedey HNcmpc lovingkindnesses steadfast loyalties of 5
H2617-36 וְ/חֶ֣סֶד vechesed HC/Ncmsa and mercy steadfast covenant loyalty 5
H2617-30 וָ/חֶ֣סֶד vachesed HC/Ncmsa and mercy and steadfast loyalty 4

Occurrences in Scripture

251 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2617-10 Genesis 19:19 חַסְדְּ/ךָ֗ chasedekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your kindness your steadfast loyalty
H2617-11 Genesis 20:13 חַסְדֵּ֔/ךְ chasedekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs is your kindness your steadfast loyalty
H2617-19 Genesis 21:23 כַּ/חֶ֜סֶד kachesed HRd/Ncmsa according to the kindness according to steadfast loyalty
H2617-15 Genesis 24:12 חֶ֕סֶד chesed HNcmsa kindness covenant-loyal love
H2617-15 Genesis 24:14 חֶ֖סֶד chesed HNcmsa kindness covenant-loyal love
H2617-14 Genesis 24:27 חַסְדּ֛/וֹ chasedo HNcmsc/Sp3ms His lovingkindness his covenant-loyalty
H2617-15 Genesis 24:49 חֶ֧סֶד chesed HNcmsa kindly covenant-loyal love
H2617-17 Genesis 32:11 הַ/חֲסָדִים֙ hachasadim HTd/Ncmpa the kindnesses the steadfast loyalties
H2617-08 Genesis 39:21 חָ֑סֶד chased HNcmsa kindness steadfast covenant loyalty
H2617-08 Genesis 40:14 חָ֑סֶד chased HNcmsa kindness steadfast covenant loyalty
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