Ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible

Ḥesed is a central theological term in the Hebrew Bible that is fundamentally relational, resistant to reduction to a single-word equivalent, and semantically multivalent. While earlier scholarship often treated this ambiguity as a lexical problem, recent studies have increasingly recognized it as a source of interpretive and theological richness. By examining its use across a variety of contexts, from covenant relationships to descriptions of God’s character and name, the semantic breadth of ḥesed contributes to its enduring theological significance throughout the Hebrew Bible.

See also Ḥesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story: New Life for Old Testament Theology (Baker Academic, 2026).

By Jennifer M. Matheny
Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures (Old Testament)
George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
August 2026

The Hebrew Word Ḥesed

Ḥesed is one of the most influential theological terms in the Hebrew Bible, a word whose semantic richness (and ambiguity!) resists precise English definitions. Throughout the biblical text, ḥesed functions as a transformative force that shapes human and divine relationships, fostering flourishing and renewed hope, even in the aftermath of the trauma of exile.

            The noun ḥesed appears more than 250 times in the Hebrew Bible, with nearly half of those occurrences found in the Psalms. Approximately two-thirds of its occurrences refer to God’s activity and movement toward people and creation. The term can also be used to describe interactions between people and the movement of people toward God. Despite a small number of negative uses, the term is used predominantly in positive ways. It is a unique word in the Hebrew Bible, lacking a clear cognate equivalent in other Semitic languages.[1]

            Most scholars agree that ḥesed is fundamentally relational. As a relational term, it is most helpful to understand it through contextual expressions rather than a single lexical definition. Rather than searching for a one-word equivalent, most scholars require a paragraph or more to define or describe the word! In our English Bible translations, ḥesed has been translated as “love” (ESV, The Message, NIV, NLT), “loving-kindness” (ASV, KJV), “mercy” (KJV, NIV, NLT), “loyalty” (ESV, NIV, NLT), “steadfast love” (ESV, NRSVue), “unfailing love” (NIV, NLT), “kindness” (ASV, NIV), and “faithfulness” (NAS). What is difficult here is that there are other Hebrew words for each of these terms. Gordon Clark writes that with ḥesed there is “no single word that can replace every occurrence.”[2] The many ways ḥesed has been translated illustrate that its meaning cannot be reduced to a single definition. Rather, it depends on how the term functions in a given context, from covenant obligations to how ḥesed describes God’s very character, most notably in Exodus 34:6–7, a passage described as the “grace formula” (Gnadenformel).

            I would argue that the best translation may be a transliteration of the Hebrew term in order to highlight its occurrences throughout the Hebrew Bible. Noting that ḥesed is fundamentally relational and found within and outside covenant relationship contexts, I have come to define ḥesed as follows: “Ḥesed: the loyal loving-kindness that originates in God’s nature, embodying both answerability and possibility through anticipated and creative relational endeavors and expressions among God, humanity, and creation.”[3]

            In earlier studies, ḥesed was primarily associated with covenant relationships. Because of scholarship’s focus on covenant and cult life in Israel during the 1940s and 1950s, ḥesed became closely connected to covenant. John Hayes notes that “No term became so closely attached to covenant as ḥesed.”[4] Later scholarship revealed the distinction between these terms and how ḥesed encompasses far more than covenant obligation.[5] Ḥesed is not confined to God’s activity alone but can be witnessed in God’s actions toward humanity, in human relationships with one another (in action and disposition), and even within creation (e.g., Psalm 33:5; 136:4–9). It becomes clear that understanding ḥesed in its context is central to interpreting its function. Because human beings are fundamentally relational creatures, formed in the image of God, acts and dispositions of ḥesed emerge through the Hebrew Bible as one of the ways a flourishing life is envisioned.

Understanding Ḥesed through Context: Insights from Wine and Terroir

If ḥesed gains meaning through its relational and narrative contexts, then perhaps it is best understood through analogy rather than a strict definition. One helpful comparison comes from the world of wine, particularly the concept of terroir. In a recent Substack article, drawing on research from my recent book, Ḥesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story, I compared wine and terroir with ḥesed to help readers grapple with the ambiguity and complexity of ḥesed and its impact in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.[6] As someone who grew up in Napa Valley, I had the privilege of being surrounded by vineyards and wineries. As a child, I didn’t always appreciate it. While my parents enjoyed wine tastings, I often found myself waiting around, snacking on crackers and wishing we could move on to something, anything, more exciting. Over time, though, I developed a deep appreciation for the art and science of winemaking and for the many factors that shape every bottle of wine. One of the things I find most fascinating is how geography, climate, history, and even the community of people all leave their mark on a vintage. Anyone familiar with California wines can imagine the impact that wildfire seasons have had on recent harvests, and on the wines that could be saved. The story of a wine is never just about the grapes; it is also about the conditions in which those grapes were grown.

            In the wine industry, there is a French term, terroir (pronounced tehr-wahr), that describes this idea. The word is difficult to translate, but it refers to a wine’s “sense of place.” Terroir includes tangible elements such as soil composition, climate, elevation, and exposure to sunlight. Some even suggest that it includes the people who cultivate the vines and care for the land. In other words, every bottle of wine bears the imprint of its environment and the relationships that helped bring it into being. Ask a winemaker to define terroir, and you’ll likely get a thoughtful explanation rather than a simple definition. The same is true for ḥesed. Scholars have devoted paragraphs to defining the term, yet no single English word captures its meaning. One scholar suggested that it is easier to describe the contexts in which ḥesed appears than to define it directly. I see this difficulty not as a weakness, but as a strength.

            Like terroir, ḥesed cannot be reduced to a single definition. It must be experienced through the relationships, communities, and stories in which it takes shape. Across the Hebrew Bible, ḥesed becomes a force that cultivates flourishing, sustains hope in seasons of failure and exile, and reveals something of God’s own character. Just as terroir contributes to the unique character of a wine, the many factors that shape our lives contribute to who we become. Our families, communities, cultures, experiences, and even the particular seasons of life we have lived through all leave their mark on us.

            The wildfire years in California changed the flavor of some wines. Some Cabernet Sauvignons were described as having metallic or smoky notes, while certain Pinot Noirs carried an ashy aftertaste. Others noted a burnt-rubber aroma in some Chardonnay wines.[7] In much the same way, difficult seasons, losses, and challenges shape us. They leave their mark, adding unexpected notes and flavors to the stories we carry and tell. Yet, like a skilled winemaker working with a difficult harvest, God continues to bring beauty from complex seasons and situations.

            This is one reason I find ḥesed throughout the Old Testament so meaningful. Because, like terroir, ḥesed is difficult to define and deeply relational, it is expressed through unique people in particular places and moments. Each person is a unique image bearer, rooted in a specific time, place, and community, and brings something distinctive to every relationship and interaction. Like different grape varietals coming together to create a remarkable bottle of wine, each person contributes something beautiful and irreplaceable to the relationships and communities they inhabit.

Ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible

Ḥesed is found in every main section of the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Prophets, and Writings). Similar to terroir, it is important to look at ḥesed in its context to understand the way it functions. The Torah presents ḥesed not merely as a covenant obligation but as a relational force that sustains life when relationships are fractured. In the Torah, ḥesed is used in various ways: in unexpected acts of generosity between people, in Yhwh’s actions toward people (the majority of occurrences), in human actions toward Yhwh, and as a key attribute of Yhwh’s self-expression and nature (Exodus 34:6–7). In Numbers and Deuteronomy, the relational dimension of ḥesed is underscored by Yhwh’s continued commitment to sustain it despite Israel’s failure to remain faithful (Numbers 14:18–19; Deuteronomy 5:10).

            The prophets further demonstrate that ḥesed functions as a measure of covenant faithfulness, justice, and hope. In the Prophets—Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) and Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets)—ḥesed occurs around 50 times. Ḥesed functions as a covenant-sustaining relational reality and also appears in contexts involving justice (Hosea 4:1), faithful worship (Hosea 6:6), creation imagery (Hosea 6:4), and hope in exile (Jeremiah 31:3; Isaiah 63:7). When ḥesed is neglected or forgotten, violence and injustice often ensue. For example, ḥesed is noted to have been neglected for Gideon’s family and the result is extreme acts of familial violence and fratricide (Judges 8:35). Taken together, these accounts through narrative and prophetic rhetoric provide a striking contrast in the ways ḥesed is either embodied or neglected, thereby illustrating its capacity to shape, or fail to shape, future generations.

            The Writings reveal ḥesed operating in diverse settings while continuing to foster life and restoration. In the Writings, the wide range of contexts in which ḥesed occurs includes Yhwh’s favor in foreign courts (e.g., Esther 2:9; Daniel 1:9; Ezra 7:28), unexpected agents of ḥesed such as the Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, toward Naomi (Ruth 1:8). In Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles, ḥesed is associated with postexilic rebuilding and communal identity formation, including in affirmations of Yhwh’s enduring ḥesed (1 Chronicles 16:34). It serves as a warning in stories where leaders failed to do acts of ḥesed, such as the neglect of ḥesed by King Joash (2 Chronicles 24:22). Within the biblical tradition, the abandonment of ḥesed gives rise to violence and social disintegration, whereas the remembrance and practice of ḥesed leads to flourishing and life.

            Within the Writings, the Psalms contain the highest concentration of the word ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible, about 127 occurrences distributed across every genre of Psalms. As a communal voice to Yhwh, the Psalms present ḥesed as the foundation of the divine-human relationship, particularly in lament, where it grounds both praise and bold appeals for divine intervention. Yhwh’s ḥesed provides the basis on which worshipers seek forgiveness, appeal to God to remember them after failure or covenant breaking, and confidently lament in times of distress (Psalms 5:7; 6:4; 25:6; 44:26).

Concluding Thoughts

Ḥesed is a theological term whose richness lies precisely in its semantic openness. Rather than seeking a single-word equivalent that captures its every occurrence, readers are invited to attend to the diverse contexts in which it is enacted. As a relational term, ḥesed gains meaning not in abstraction but in practice and disposition. The idea of friendship offers another helpful analogy.[8] Friendship remains difficult to define exhaustively, yet its meaning becomes clear through specific relationships and acts of care. So too with ḥesed! While ḥesed intersects with broader theological concepts such as covenant, it is ultimately encountered in concrete practices and relationships within the Hebrew Bible, including negotiations for survival (Joshua 2:12), acts of justice (Hosea 6:4), experiences of divine favor (Daniel 1:9), forgiveness (Numbers 14:18–19), prayers uttered in times of despair (Ruth 1:8), and expressions of both praise and lament (Psalm 25).