Next to Yahweh, Hesed is the second most important word in the Hebrew Bible. It’s such an important word and concept; this is going to be a deeper dive, so stick with me.

More Than a Word

Hesed is not a theological abstraction or an ancient Hebrew relic to be admired from a distance—it is a lived reality that reshapes hearts and communities. In the biblical imagination, Hesed is never merely spoken or felt; it is demonstrated. The thread binds together the narrative of redemption, not just a concept to understand but a calling to embody.

When God reveals His character to Moses in Exodus 34:6, Hesed is at the center: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in Hesed and faithfulness.” This isn’t God telling Moses who He is in theory. It’s a declaration of who He will be in a relationship. Throughout Israel’s history, God has proven it repeatedly—not through distant declarations, but through mercy, rescue, provision, and covenant faithfulness.

Hesed is what sent manna from heaven, kept promises across generations, and raised prophets to call people back to love and righteousness. It is the lifeblood of relationships marked by loyalty and sacrifice. It shows up in God’s grand acts and the small, gritty decisions to stay, serve, forgive, and endure. In this way, Hesed is not only descriptive of God—it is prescriptive for God’s people.

In our world of disposable commitments and fleeting affections, Hesed disrupts the norm. It calls us to a love that shows up. A love that forgives when it hurts, serves when it’s inconvenient, and keeps its word when no one else will. It reminds us that God’s love is not just a noun—it’s a verb.

To say Hesed is to describe a life marked by holy reliability and grace in action. In short, it’s far more than a word. It’s a way of life.

The Definition and Richness of Hesed

The Hebrew word Hesed (חֶסֶד) is one of the richest and most profound terms in all of Scripture. It is used nearly 250 times in the Old Testament, yet it resists a simple translation. Depending on the context, Bible versions may render it as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness,” “mercy,” “faithfulness,” “goodness,” or “graciousness.” Each of these captures a facet of the word, but none can fully encapsulate its depth.

At its heart, Hesed describes covenantal love—a loyal, faithful, and compassionate commitment to acting for the good of another regardless of the cost. It’s not merely an emotion or affection but a love expressed through concrete action. Michael Card captures Hesed as “when the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything.” Paul Miller states, “Hesed loves regardless of the response. It does not demand recognition or equality. It is uneven.”

Unlike transactional relationships, Hesed is rooted in enduring, unshakable loyalty. It binds together justice, mercy, obligation, and compassion. Thus, Hesed is the perfect word to describe how God relates to His people—not based on their merit but on His promise. A covenantal promise.

This divine love shows up when Ruth clings to Naomi, David spares Saul’s life, and God rescues Israel repeatedly despite their rebellion. Hesed bends low to lift the broken and remains steady when everything else falters.

In modern terms, Hesed might best be described as a fusion of love in action, mercy without expiration, and commitment without condition. It’s the kind of love our hearts long for — and the type of love God calls us to extend.

Hesed in the Old Testament: God’s Covenant Character

The Hebrew word Hesed is woven throughout the Old Testament as a defining trait of God’s covenantal nature. It is difficult to translate with a single English word because Hesed embodies loyal love, mercy, steadfastness, kindness, and faithfulness — all bound together in the context of deep relational commitment. At its core, Hesed reveals a God who is not distant or transactional but intimately invested and unshakably loyal to His people.

God’s Hesed is not based on our worthiness but on His promises. In Exodus 34:6–7, when the Lord passes before Moses, He declares His name and nature: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Hesed) and faithfulness.” This is not simply a description — it is God’s self-revealed identity. His Hesed is the anchor of His covenant with Israel, a love that persists even when they rebel (Deuteronomy 7:9; Hosea 11:1–4).

The Psalms are saturated with this word, repeating repeatedly that “His steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136) This refrain isn’t a poetic exaggeration — it’s the heartbeat of Israel’s worship and hope. God’s Hesed holds them when they are exiled, what welcomes them when they repent, and what gives them assurance in uncertain times.

The Old Testament is not simply a chronicle of Israel’s failures — it’s a testimony to the relentless Hesed of God. His mercy runs more profound than our rebellion. His faithfulness is more substantial than our forgetfulness. And His love is more durable than our doubt.

Human Expressions of Hesed

While Hesed begins with God, it is not meant to end there. One of the most apparent types of evidence that we are children of the God of Hesed is that we reflect His steadfast love for others. The call is not to mimic God’s love with a fleeting or conditional version but to embody a covenantal, loyal love that reflects His character in our daily relationships.

The prophet Micah captures this beautifully: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy (Hesed) and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) This isn’t about sentimentality; it’s about faithfulness. To “love mercy” is to pursue relationships with the same tenacious compassion and loyalty God shows us.

In human terms, Hesed looks like a husband staying with a spouse through years of illness. It looks like a friend showing up when everyone else disappears. The spiritual parent commits to walking with a new believer, even when progress is slow and messy. It’s mentoring, discipling, and pastoring not out of obligation but from a heart transformed by God’s enduring love.

And perhaps most radically, Hesed is loving when it is not deserved. Just as God extends His kindness to us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), we are called to love our enemies, forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22), and bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). These are not easy tasks, but they are holy ones — made possible only by the Spirit of the One who first loved us.

Hesed Fulfilled in Christ

If Hesed is the steadfast love of God woven through the Old Testament, then in Christ, it is made incarnate and eternal. The Hebrew Hesed and the Greek Agape converge at the cross, where covenant loyalty meets sacrificial, unconditional love. What was long promised in shadows and symbols becomes visible in the person of Jesus. John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Grace — the New Testament echo of Hesed — walks among sinners, heals the broken, and ultimately bears the punishment of the unfaithful.

Through the Gospel, Hesed is no longer just God’s commitment and loving-kindness to Israel — it is extended to all through Christ. As Paul reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love (Agape) for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) This is Hesed perfected — not merely covenant kept, but covenant fulfilled and sealed in blood.

Unlike the Old Testament cycle of sin and forgiveness that required repeated sacrifices, Jesus is the once-for-all expression of Hesed. Agape anchors this divine commitment — a love that doesn’t depend on our performance but on Christ’s finished work. In Him, we are welcomed into a new covenant where Hesed is no longer a hope we cling to but a promise we rest in.

Living Out Hesed Today

To live out Hesed today is to resist the cultural current of disposable relationships and shallow commitments. It means building communities where people feel safe, seen, and sustained. In The Other Half of Church, Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks emphasize that Hesed love is the relational glue necessary for true spiritual transformation. Without it, small groups become informational rather than formational. But when Hesed is present — expressed through consistent presence, compassionate care, and enduring loyalty — it creates environments where trust is built and character is shaped.

This means discipleship groups and relationships should prioritize relational depth over curriculum checkboxes. It’s not just about what we’re learning together but how we love one another through the learning. When a brother or sister stumbles, Hesed doesn’t retreat—it leans in, reminding them of their identity in Christ and walking with them back toward wholeness. It’s love with grit, grace, and a long memory.

A Love that Anchors

In a world full of conditional affection and transactional relationships, Hesed stands as an immovable anchor — the kind of love that doesn’t flinch in the face of failure, hardship, or disappointment. The love undergirds true discipleship: steady, sacrificial, and committed for the long haul. When we disciple others, we’re not merely transferring knowledge — we are embodying Hesed, walking patiently with someone through their doubts, detours, and growth. Just as God’s steadfast love upholds us through every valley (Psalm 136), we are called to offer that same anchoring presence to those we lead. Discipleship rooted in Hesed doesn’t abandon, doesn’t rush, and doesn’t demand perfection — it reflects the faithfulness of a God whose love never lets go.