חֶ֫סֶד
che.sed
kindness
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# חֶ֫סֶד (Hesed): Kindness in Biblical Context The Hebrew word *hesed* appears 245 times throughout the Bible, indicating it held considerable significance for biblical authors. Translated as "kindness," this term encompasses acts of benevolence and goodwill. Its frequency across the biblical corpus suggests that the concept it represents was central to how ancient Israelites understood human relationships and divine action. The word's prevalence across different biblical books and genres points to its importance as a recurring ethical and theological concept. While the lexicon data provided establishes "kindness" as the fundamental meaning, the sheer number of occurrences (245) implies that *hesed* carried nuanced applications in various contexts. This high frequency suggests the term was not marginal to biblical thought but rather essential to expressing values related to compassion, loyalty, and benevolent action. However, without access to specific contextual usage examples from the lexicon data, the full range of meanings and distinctions between similar concepts cannot be determined solely from this entry. The word's prominence in biblical literature indicates that kindness—whether human or divine in origin—represented a valued quality worthy of repeated discussion and emphasis across multiple biblical traditions and time periods.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
245 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to Yahweh; for his loving kindness endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 24:22Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”
2 Chronicles 32:32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 35:26Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in Yahweh’s law,
Genesis 24:12He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Ezra 3:11They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
Ezra 7:28and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to Yahweh my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
Ezra 9:9For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 1:5and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
Nehemiah 9:17and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:32Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.
Nehemiah 13:14Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.
Nehemiah 13:22I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
Esther 2:9The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house.
Esther 2:17The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Job 6:14“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Job 10:12You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
Job 37:13Whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
Psalms 5:7But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
Psalms 6:4Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
Psalms 13:5But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalms 17:7Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Psalms 18:50He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.
Psalms 21:7For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
Psalms 23:6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
Psalms 25:6Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.
Psalms 25:7Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
Psalms 25:10All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalms 26:3For your loving kindness is before my eyes. I have walked in your truth.
Psalms 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness, for you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.
Psalms 31:16Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness.
Psalms 31:21Praise be to Yahweh, for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.
Psalms 32:10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
Psalms 33:5He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh.
Psalms 33:18Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,
Psalms 33:22Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you.
Psalms 36:5Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalms 36:7How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
Psalms 36:10Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Psalms 40:10I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly.
Psalms 40:11Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.
Psalms 42:8Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalms 44:26Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.
Psalms 48:9We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the middle of your temple.
Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 52:1Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.
Psalms 52:8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
Psalms 57:3He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
Psalms 57:10For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
Psalms 59:10My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.