Every human being longs for a love that does not fail. Still, in our world, love is often conditional. It shifts with circumstances, disappointments, or personal gain. What if there is a kind of love that never lets go, that stays faithful even when people fail? The Bible has a word for this kind of love: hesed.
The Hebrew word hesed appears more than 250 times in the Old Testament. It is one of the richest words in Scripture, translated as “steadfast love,” “mercy,” “kindness,” or “faithful love.” Strong’s Concordance (H2617) defines it as covenant loyalty, goodness, and mercy. Michael Card describes hesed as “a word too deep for translation, an inexpressible mystery of God’s loyal lovingkindness” (Card 2018, 3). When Moses encounters God on Mount Sinai, the Lord reveals Himself as “the God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love (hesed) and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6, NLT).
Beyond Human Love
Our human love is often fragile. We love those who please us, but we struggle to remain faithful when we are wronged. Hesed is different. It is God’s covenant love that flows out of His character, not our worthiness. The psalmist celebrates this again and again: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love (hesed) endures forever” (Ps. 136:1, NLT). Even so, in times of judgment or exile, God’s hesed never ends: “The faithful love (hesed) of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam. 3:22–23, NLT).
In my thesis on the reformation of Worcester, I described hesed as one of the walls of the “Hesed Home”, a model for a culture of communal productivity. Communities can only flourish when mercy and faithfulness shape their life together (Guntelach 2023, 112–118). Without hesed, relationships collapse into fear, mistrust, and self-interest.
Practising Hesed
So what might it look like if we practised hesed in Worcester, in South Africa, or anywhere else? It would mean keeping promises, even when it costs us. It would mean forgiving when wronged, showing mercy where revenge feels easier. It would mean choosing faithfulness in marriage, honesty in business, and integrity in leadership.
Hesed also calls us to act beyond obligation. It inspires generosity to the poor, loyalty to friends, and kindness to strangers. It means not just following rules but embodying love that goes the extra mile. Micah sums it up: “O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy (hesed), and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8, NLT).
Imagine what our communities would look like if we lived out hesed. Families would be safe places. Schools would shape not only clever minds but also merciful hearts. Businesses would serve people, not just profits. Political and cultural divides would soften under the power of faithful love.
A Personal Challenge
At the heart of it all is our need for a love that stands firm. God has already shown us such love through Christ, who gave Himself even when we did not deserve it. The challenge is to let His hesed direct our choices and attitudes, so that His faithfulness becomes visible in our daily actions.
Here is the challenge to carry with you this week: Where is God calling me to show hesed, faithful, merciful love, to someone in my community?
References
Card, Michael. 2018. Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.
Guntelach, Bruno. 2023. Reforming Worcester, South Africa: A Strategy to Establish a Culture of Communal Productivity. Executive Masters Thesis, University of the Nations.
Strong’s Concordance. n.d. “Hesed.” Entry H2617. Accessed 30 August 2025.
The Holy Bible. New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Living-Translation-NLT-Bible/. Accessed 30 August 2025.