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Chesed

Chesed (Hebrew: חסד) is a Hebrew word often translated as loving-kindness, steadfast mercy, loyalty, or covenant faithfulness. Etymologically related to love and kindness, chesed denotes an act of kindness that is given and not simply felt. In biblical and post-biblical Hebrew, it encompasses both benevolent acts toward others and the steadfast, covenantal love that God shows to Israel.

In the Hebrew Bible, chesed is used to describe divine mercy and faithfulness, repeatedly linked to God’s

In rabbinic literature, chesed is central to the ethics of social responsibility and community life. Acts of

In theology, the term often functions as a theological category to describe God’s relationship with humanity,

attributes
in
Exodus
34:6-7
and
elsewhere.
It
underpins
the
concept
of
God’s
enduring
mercy
and
is
a
standard
of
moral
behavior
expected
of
people,
paired
with
emet
(truth)
in
phrases
like
chesed
and
emet.
The
phrase
chesed
shel
emet
appears
in
the
biblical
and
liturgical
tradition.
gemilut
chasadim
(gifts
of
loving-kindness)
include
visiting
the
sick,
comforting
mourners,
helping
the
poor,
and
lending
without
interest.
It
is
viewed
as
an
essential
virtue,
reflecting
the
divine
attribute
of
steadfast
love.
as
well
as
the
ethical
ideal
for
human
conduct.
In
modern
Hebrew,
chesed
remains
common
as
a
general
term
for
kindness
and
loyalty.