The Biblical Key Word ḥeseḏ: What Exactly Does It Mean?

What is it about?

The Biblical Hebrew word 'ḥeseḏ' is often rendered in English as ‘mercy’ or ‘lovingkindness.’ It does not, however, mean either 'mercy' or 'lovingkindness.' This key biblical word appears in many verses that practicing Jews and Christians read and pray. Thus, it is important to understand its meaning if we want to understand the verses in which it occurs. This paper investigates the meaning of 'ḥeseḏ' and defines it using simple, universal terms. The definition can therefore be translated into any language and accessed by anyone who wishes to understand the meaning of this key biblical word.

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