Hebrew Root - Chet-Samekh-Dalet

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Hebrew Word of the Week

In the words below, see how the key letters (Chet, Samekh, and Dalet) are used to form other Hebrew words:

This root basically has the idea of lovingkindess, love, faithful love, and (in the case of the Lord), covenantal faithfulness based on love. Chasadim (plural) refers to the many acts of loyalty God performs toward the human race (Ps.106:7,45; Lam.3:22,32). Chesed is the fourth of the Sefriot defined in the Kabbala, depicting God's love for His creation.

God's chesed extends to all of us daily (Ps.52:1), from eternity past to eternity future (Isa.54:8). It fills all three heavens (Isa.57:10; Ps.108:4; 36:5) as well as the earth (Ps.33:5; 119:64). It is intrinsically good (Ps.69:16), and is better than life itself, Ps.63:5.

God's chesed is expressed to Israel in the covenants (Gen.12:13; Micah.7:20) and
the rise of the house of David is said to be an act of chesed (Ps.33:12; 44:26). Indeed, God's chesed extends to the entire human race (Ps.103:8,11; Jonah.2:14, Ps.107).

Ps.136 uses the repeated refrain, ki le'olam chasdo as a response to the goodness and kindness of God.

"Give thanks to the LORD for He is good; for His chesed endures forever."

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness (chesed), judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

-- Jeremiah 9:23-24

Pictographic Meaning
The pictogram for the shoresh, or root, looks as follows:

Loosely construed, the pictogram may suggest a leader who passes beyond the fence (of selfishness) and enters through the doorway of compassion.

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