חֶסֶד chesed

Hebrew word for “kindness” · Strong’s H2617 · used 247 times in 241 verses

Explore it in the Word Atlas

Meaning

goodness, kindness, faithfulness

Senses in the lexicon

• kindness (245)
• shame (2)

How it is translated

Glosses given for chesed in context, with how often each is used:

• covenant loyalty 182
• loyalty 42
• covenant loyalties 17
• favor 3
• shame 2
• loyalties 1

Where it is used

Also in 16 more books.

Chapters where it is used most

Psalms 136 (26), Psalms 89 (7), Psalms 119 (7), Psalms 107 (6), Psalms 118 (5), Genesis 24 (4), Psalms 103 (4), Psalms 109 (4), 1 Samuel 20 (3), 2 Samuel 9 (3)

Forms

• חסד 78
• חסדו 58
• חסדך 38
• חסדי 10
• וחסד 9
• כחסדך 7
• החסד 6
• והחסד 5
• וחסדי 5
• בחסדך 4

Words used with it

Words that share verses with chesed more often than their overall frequency would suggest:

• עוֹלָם olam “forever” 58
• אֱמֶת emet “truth” 33
• יָדָה yadah “to give thanks” 22
• עִם im “with” 36
• שָׁמַר shamar “to keep” 18
• זָכַר zakhar “to remember” 15
• טוֹב tov “pleasant” 18
• רַחֲמִים rachamim “compassion” 11
• אֱמוּנָה emunah “faithfulness” 11
• דָּוִד david “David” 19
• עֶבֶד eved “servant/slave” 17
• אָרֵךְ arekh “slow” 8

Key verses

The verses using chesed that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):

• Exodus 34:6 — And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
• Psalms 51:1 — [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to…
• Psalms 86:5 — For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
• Psalms 86:15 — But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
• Psalms 103:17 — But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
• Isaiah 55:3 — Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
• Isaiah 63:7 — I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward…
• Jeremiah 33:11 — The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of…
• Hosea 4:1 — Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor…
• Joel 2:13 — And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and…
• Micah 6:8 — He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
• Micah 7:18 — Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever,…

See all 241 verses in the Word Atlas

Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.