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Strong’s (Hebrew): H2617 · Transliteration: ḥesed · Hebrew: חֶסֶד · Pronounced: HEH-sed
Strong’s (Greek): G26 · Transliteration: agápē · Greek: ἀγάπη · Pronounced: ah-GAH-pay
What does ḥesed mean?
- Covenant love: promise-keeping loyalty; God’s committed love to His people.
- Active kindness: love that acts—rescues, forgives, sustains, protects.
- Faithful mercy: persistent, undeserved kindness that keeps showing up.
Common English renderings: steadfast love · loving-kindness · mercy · faithful/loyal love · kindness.
How does agápē relate?
- Overlap: both speak of deep, faithful, other-seeking love rooted in God’s character.
- Center of gravity: ḥesed stresses covenant loyalty + mercy in action; agápē stresses self-giving, sacrificial love (especially in Christ) that believers are called to imitate.
- Easy memory line: ḥesed = God’s promise-keeping love in action; agápē = God’s self-giving love poured out.
What does the Septuagint (LXX) use?
In the Greek Old Testament, ḥesed is translated mostly as ἔλεος (éleos, “mercy/steadfast kindness”), not as agápē.
- Psalm 136 — “for his ḥesed endures forever” → LXX: “ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.”
- Exodus 34:6–7 — “abounding in ḥesed and truth” → LXX highlights ἔλεος and ἀλήθεια (truth).
- Micah 6:8 — “love ḥesed” → LXX: “τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν ἔλεος” (“to love mercy”).
- Hosea 6:6 — “I desire ḥesed, not sacrifice” → LXX: “ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν,” quoted by Jesus in Matt 9:13; 12:7.
The NT noun agápē (G26) is central for Christian love, but when the NT quotes OT verses about ḥesed, it normally arrives via the LXX as ἔλεος (mercy).
Key passages to know
- Exodus 34:6–7 — God’s self-revelation: “abounding in ḥesed and faithfulness.”
- Psalm 136 — the refrain: “for his ḥesed endures forever.”
- Micah 6:8 — “love ḥesed.”
- Hosea 6:6 — “I desire ḥesed, not sacrifice.”
- Lamentations 3:22–23 — hope in ruins rests on God’s unfailing ḥesed.
- NT — agápē snapshots: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7–10.
Fast facts
- ḥesed (H2617): noun (masc.); root ח־ס־ד (ḥ-s-d, “to show kindness/loyalty”); frequent in Psalms and covenant texts.
- agápē (G26): noun; NT’s primary term for God’s self-giving love and the love believers practice.
- LXX mapping: ḥesed → chiefly ἔλεος (“mercy/steadfast kindness”); verbs may use ἀγαπάω (“to love”) in some contexts.
- Paired terms: ḥesed with ’emet (אֱמֶת, “faithfulness/truth”); NT often pairs agápē with faith/hope (1 Cor 13:13).
Why it matters
- God’s character: ḥesed and agápē together show God’s loyal, merciful, self-giving love.
- Hope anchor: when circumstances collapse, God’s ḥesed doesn’t — and His agápē seeks and saves.
- Our calling: love others with promise-keeping kindness (ḥesed) and self-giving care (agápē).
Bible S O S (Self-Discovery)
SAY — What stands out?
Where do you see God’s ḥesed/agápē active in the passages above?
OBEY — How could you practice loyal, self-giving love?
Choose one relationship to show promise-keeping kindness and sacrificial care this week.
SHARE — Who needs this hope?
Tell someone today: God’s loyal, self-giving love has not run out.
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