In our current day and throughout history, in church sermons, Bible classes, and Biblical literature, we hear about YHVH’s punishments, curses, and retributions being meted out on the Israelites for disobeying Him and breaking His commandments. It appears, however, that we have forgotten or neglected to see the “other side of the coin” – the seemingly endless Biblical accounts of YHVH’s immense love, mercy and kindness that He has shown to his children and the promises of such in the future. Have we been so consumed with fear and concerned with being litigiously correct that we have overlooked this most amazing aspect of our Creator, known in Hebrew as hesed?

It is tempting for me to say that hesed may be the most important word in the Bible. The Jewish Sages go as far as to say, “Olam Hesed Yibaneh” – The world is created by hesed. The Hebrew word “hesed” (חֶסֶד, pronounced kheh’-sed), found 248 times in the Tanakh, describes an essential attribute of the Character of YHVH. This word is difficult to translate into English, resulting in a myriad of meanings employed throughout the many translations of the Bible. The most commonly used definitions include mercy, steadfastness, lovingkindness, unfailing love, and faithful love, among others. These translations, however, barely skim the surface of the rich, multilayered meaning that underlies this word. Some Hebrew scholars say that hesed is more than just a description of feeling; that it also denotes action. Others say, and we shall see, that the Biblical texts attest to the fact that not only is YHVH’s hesed sometimes undeserved or in excess, it also appears to be unconditional. Like a parent who disciplines their child but doesn’t stop loving or showing kindness to him/her, YHVH’s hesed toward backsliding Israel was constant and unwavering.

In Exodus 34:6–7, one of the most often quoted verses of the Bible, YHVH appears to Moses to give him the second copy of the Law and describes Himself as “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness (hesed) and truth, keeping mercy (hesed) for a thousand generations to those who love Him and keep His commandments.” This was after the people sinned with the molten calf. As we shall see, this is no ordinary love. Of course, the remainder of the verse tells us that the breaking of YHVH’s covenants and laws have dire consequences – but does this mean that YHVH will remove His hesed? God forbid!

Consider the prophet Isaiah:

“In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness (hesed) will I have compassion on thee, saith YHVH thy Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:8) And:

“Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love (hesed) for you will not be shaken.” (Isaiah 54:10)

In Jeremiah:

“YHVH appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness (hesed).” (Jeremiah 31:3)

In YHVH’s promise to King David and his offspring we read that though He will punish them for their iniquities, His hesed appears to be unconditional.

“For ever will I keep for him My mercy (hesed), and My covenant shall stand fast with him.” (Psalm 89:29) And:

“If his children forsake My law and walk not in Mine ordinances; If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with strokes. But My mercy (hesed) will I not break off from him, nor will I be false to My faithfulness. (Psalm 89:31-34)

The theme of eternal hesed for the House of David continues in 2 Samuel and Psalm 136:

“A tower of salvation is He to His king; and showeth mercy (hesed) to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.” (2 Samuel 22:51)

In Psalm 136, also known as the Great Hallel, the word hesed is used 26 times. Most likely this Psalm was sung “antiphonally”, i.e.  the cantor would sing the first line of each verse and the choir would respond with the refrain:  kiy l’olam hesedo (His faithful love, or mercy endures forever, literally “for unto eternity is His hesed”). By the way, in gematria the number 26 is the sum of the Hebrew characters יהוה (YHVH).

In contrast, in the following verse regarding David and King Saul, YHVH’s hesed toward David is unconditional, as opposed to that dealing with Saul. Some scholars say this verse is referring to the throne of Saul rather than hesed. Perhaps Saul had refused to accept YHVH’s hesed, or the “covenant of hesed” had not been established with King David yet.

“If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy (hesed) shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.” (2 Samuel 7:14-15)

Some other examples of YHVH showing hesed to His servants: Nehemiah uses the word in his brief prayer when restoring proper Sabbath observance:

“And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy (hesed).” (Nehemiah. 13:22)

The Book of Ruth is a story of hesed. Ruth showed unwavering love and loyalty to Naomi, Boaz showed hesedby marrying Ruth in order to give Elimelech an heir, and Naomi testifies to YHVH’s hesed in Ruth 2:20 by acknowledging His hand in bringing Ruth to Boaz: “Blessed be he of YHVH, who hath not left off His kindness (hesed) to the living and to the dead.”

Throughout the New Testament the Greek word used to describe YHVH’s mercy, pity, kindness, and compassion is ἔλεος, eleos, (pronounced el’-eh-os); however, Shem Tob’s Hebrew Gospel of Matthew uses the Hebrew word hesed:

“Go and learn that which is written: I desire kindness (hesed) and not sacrifice;” (Matthew 9:13, HGM)

“If you had known what this is: I desire kindness (hesed) and not (sacrifice), you would not have convicted the innocent.” (Matthew 12:7 HGM)

“When they came out, he saw behind him a numerous people; so he extended kindness (hesed) to [them] and healed all of their diseases.” (Matthew 14:14 HGM)

“Woe to them, the sages and Pharisees, who tithe (mint,) dill, and pomegranate, but who commit robbery (and leave undone) that which is weightier, that is, the judgments of the Torah which are: kindness (hesed), truth and faithfulness. These are commands worthy of doing; one should not forget them.” (Matthew 23:23 HGM)

The question remains: how do we, as mere mortals, practice hesed? In Judaism, a person who embodies hesed is known as a Hasid (חסיד) – one who is faithful to the covenant and who goes “above and beyond that which is normally required”. Hosea tells us that hesed is something that YHVH desires: “For I desire mercy (hesed), and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) In Micah 6:8 we are told that it is a requirement: “It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what YHVH doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy (hesed), and to walk humbly with thy God.” Zechariah 7:9 teaches us that hesed is not above our comprehension; it is not a trait solely of the divine, but it is imbedded in each and every one of us, as children made in the image of God: “Thus hath YHVH Sabbaoth spoken, saying: ‘Execute true judgment, and show mercy (hesed) and compassion every man to his brother…’”

There are many examples of the display of hesed being shown between people throughout the Hebrew Bible; too many to list here. David shows hesed to King Saul when he was close enough to kill him but spares his life. He also shows kindness (hesed) to Hanun the son of Nahash in 2 Samuel Chapter 10. In 1 Kings 2:7 David instructs Solomon to “do hesed” (show kindness) unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. In Proverbs, the Virtuous Woman “opens her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness (hesed) is on her tongue”.

In the New Testament’s Sermon on the Mount, the Jewish teacher Jesus gives a step-by-step “tutorial” on the unconditional and the “going above and beyond” aspects of hesed:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:38-48)

In conclusion: James the brother of Jesus once said, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”. Perhaps the same can be said about Torah faith…if it hath not hesed.

 

Patty Tyler is an independent researcher and a member of the Board of Directors for United Israel World Union. She and her husband David direct the United Israel Center Northeast in Upstate New York.