חֶסֶד

“Covenant loyalty” in Hebrew is Chesed (חֶסֶד), pronounced “KHEH-sed.” Chesed comes from the root ח-ס-ד (chet-samech-dalet). While often translated as love, mercy, or kindness, its core meaning is covenant faithfulness — loyal love that persists because of a binding commitment, not fluctuating feelings.

Chesed (חֶסֶד) means “Covenant loyalty, faithful love, steadfast devotion” in Biblical Hebrew. Chesed appears 248 times in the Hebrew Bible. In this covenant-loyalty sense, it describes Ruth's devotion to Naomi (Ruth 1:8, 3:10), Jonathan's loyalty to David (1 Samuel 20:14), God's faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel's failure (Hosea 2:19), and Micah 6:8's command to love chesed.

Chesed is pronounced “KHEH-sed.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ח-ס-ד.

Kindness can be random and temporary. Chesed is covenantal and enduring. It is loyalty that persists because of a bond — not because of the other person's worthiness. God's chesed toward Israel continues despite repeated unfaithfulness because chesed is anchored in covenant, not merit. It is the most reliable form of love in the universe.

Ruth's loyalty to Naomi is called chesed twice (1:8, 3:10). She leaves her homeland, religion, and future prospects to stay with her bereft mother-in-law. Boaz recognizes this as chesed — covenant loyalty that goes beyond obligation. Ruth's chesed mirrors God's: faithful love that perseveres regardless of cost.

God doesn't just say 'practice chesed' — He says 'love chesed.' This is a call to fall in love with faithfulness itself, to be someone for whom loyalty is not a burden but a delight. Loving chesed means finding joy in keeping promises, standing by people, and reflecting God's unwavering character.