by Katharine Doob Sakenfeld

Helpful examples of Cḥesed expressed in human relationships are in the stories of Ruth and Naomi and of David and Jonathan. These help us to understand the fullness of God’s Cḥesed, which is steadfast and therefore abundantly greater than any human expressions.

by Baruch A. Levine

The meaning of Ḥesed has been studied by Sages and scholars since antiquity. It operates on two planes: human-to-human, and human-to-divine, where Ḥesed is an attribute of God. The Hebrew noun Ḥesed has no known etymology; we learn its meaning entirely from context and usage.

by Mark Leuchter

While Ḥesed has different meanings for different situations, here are many instructive examples to help clarify the power of this ancient word that remains useful for contemporary preachers, congregations, and anyone seeking to express deeper relationships with God and one another.

by Douglas S. Stivison

Many Christians believe that Ḥesed is the unconditional love of God despite whatever failings people may have. However, some believe that ḥesed may be part of a covenantal relationship where fulfilling binding pledges is necessary before a covenant is confirmed.

by Brad Embry

While notoriously difficult to translate, ḥesed is often defined as loving kindness or steadfast love; it is also rendered in terms of power and strength as an act of God to deliver the believer from an enemy. It is a word for all seasons for many reasons.

by Jo David

Written by a Rabbi for non-Jewish readers, this piece offers clear explanations of various Jewish religious rites and occasions that deal with the concept of Ḥesed; this is an excellent opportunity for Christian clergy to gain insight into the religion that Jesus followed.

by Åke Viberg

Here Jeremiah is the one to deliver a particular understanding of ḥesed, as expressed in chapters 18 and 19 with the image of a potter who takes a lump of clay and fashions it into whatever shape the potter wishes; if the clay did not turn out as intended, the potter could reshape it with loving attention.

by Phil Ruge-Jones

The author encourages us to communicate with our listeners not only by preaching at them but by drawing them into the Gospel readings through a “you are there” technique of Biblical story telling. How better to demonstrate the Ḥesed of Jesus than a memorable encounter with him?

by Yongbom Lee

Since Paul’s understanding of human-divine relationships was seated in the belief that God’s intention for humanity was positive, sustained, and generous, it is not difficult to see how Ḥesed could have been, for the Apostle, the binding confirmation of the reality of God’s unending love for creation.

by Peter S. Perry

Attempting to define the word <Ḥesed for use in a sermon can be daunting since it tends to differ depending on the translation used. The author feels it is worth the time since defining Ḥesed may help preachers gain new insights into their and their congregants’ relationships with God.

by Peter Lau

Here is a detailed analysis of the relationships among Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, and God as reported in the Book of Ruth. The Ḥesed in Ruth springs from a generous spirit whose self sacrifice helps those in need without regard for one’s own peril.

by John W. Herbst

The Old Testament Books of Judges and Ruth are set in the same time period—Israel prior to the establishment of the monarchy—but hospitality clearly “works” in one but does not fare so well in the other. This intriguing article explores the reasons why.