My favorite Hebrew word is hesed, pronounced with a raspy “h” at the beginning. Rich in meaning, hesed carryies the idea of loyal love in action. Our English versions translate it with terms like “mercy,” “lovingkindness,” and “steadfast love.”
In his commentary on the Psalms, H. C. Leupold calls hesed: “a term for which our language has no equivalent that is quite big enough to express all that is involved.”
You get a feeling for what hesed means in context with other similar words about God’s compassion, like in Psalm 145:8: “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love [hesed].” That God has hesed towards us means He loves us with a faithful, active grace that seeks to bless us even when we don’t deserve it.
The Old Testament Book of Ruth is like a short story description of what hesed is all about. We meet Ruth in chapter one: a young widow from a foreign country who promises to be a faithful companion to her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth’s whole-hearted devotion to her deceased husband’s mom is firmly asserted in her declaration: “where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Ruth’s commitment to stay by Naomi’s side sounds like the covenant God made with Israel: “I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be My people” (Leviticus 26:12). Ruth’s unwavering loyalty to her mother-in-law reflects God’s loyal love to us when He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Amazing grace to those in need. Thank You, Lord, for Your hesed to us.
