חסד

Hebrew

Root
ח־ס־ד (ḥ-s-d)

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈχesed/, /ˈħesed/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): [ˈħɛsɛð]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

חֶסֶד • (khésed) m (plural indefinite חֲסָדִים, singular construct חֶסֶד־, plural construct חַסְדֵי־) [pattern: קֶטֶל]

1. loving kindness, benevolence, goodness
   • Tanach, Deuteronomy 7:9, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָו לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר׃

     v'yada'tá ki-YHVH 'elohékha hú ha'elohím ha'él hane'emán shomér hab'rít v'hakhésed l'ohaváv ul'shom'réi mitsvotáv l'élef dór.
     wəyāḏaʿtā kī-YHWH ʾĕlōhéḵā hū hāʾĕlōhīm hāʾēl hanneʾĕmān šōmēr habbərīṯ wəhaḥéseḏ ləʾōhăḇāw ūləšōmərē miṣwōṯāw ləʾélep̄ dōr.

     Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God; the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;

   • Tanach, Proverbs 31:26, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָהּ׃

     píha pat'khá v'khokhmá v'torát khésed 'al-l'shonáh.
     pī́hā pāṯəḥā ḇəḥoḵmā wəṯōraṯ ḥéseḏ ʿal-ləšōnāh.

     She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

   • Rashi's commentary on Deuteronomy 3:24

     אֵינְךָ דוֹמֶה לְמֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ יוֹעֲצִין וְסַנְקַתֶּדְרִין הַמַמְּחִין בְּיָדוֹ כְּשֶׁרוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד וְלַעֲבֹר עַל מִדּוֹתָיו

     Einkhá doméh l'mélekh basár vadám she-yésh lo yo'atzin v'sankatedrín ha'mamḥín b'yadó ksherotsé la'asot ḥesedv'la'avod al midotav

     You are not like a king of flesh and blood who has advisors and counselors who would hold back his hand when he wishes to do benevolence and transgress his attributes

2. (biblical) shame, reproach

Declension

Declension of חֶסֶד

Number	Isolated forms		With possessive pronouns
	State	Form	Person	singular		plural
				m.	f.	m.	f.
singular	indefinite	חֶסֶד	first	חַסְדִּי		חַסְדֵּנוּ
	definite	הַחֶסֶד	second	חַסְדְּךָ	חַסְדֵּךְ	חַסְדְּכֶם	חַסְדְּכֶן
	construct	חֶסֶד־	third	חַסְדּוֹ	חַסְדָּהּ	חַסְדָּם	חַסְדָּן
plural	indefinite	חֲסָדִים	first	חסדיי / חֲסָדַי		חֲסָדֵינוּ
	definite	הַחֲסָדִים	second	חֲסָדֶיךָ	חסדייך / חֲסָדַיִךְ	חַסְדֵיכֶם	חַסְדֵיכֶן
	construct	חַסְדֵי־	third	חֲסָדָיו	חֲסָדֶיהָ	חַסְדֵיהֶם	חַסְדֵיהֶן

Derived terms

• גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים (Gemilut Ḥasadim)
• הֲמָתַת חֶסֶד (hamatát khésed)

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew חֶסֶד.

Pronunciation

• (YIVO, Litvish) IPA^(key): /χɛsed/
• (Poylish) IPA^(key): /χejsed/

Noun

חסד • (khesed) m or f, plural חסדים (khasdim)

1. generosity, favor