hesed

What it means

Covenant faithfulness that goes beyond what is owed: kindness, loyalty, and mercy bound together. It's what people in a committed relationship do for each other, especially when one can't repay. English has no single word for it, which is why translations vary so much. It's the central word of Ruth.

Range of meaning

• Loyalty within a relationshipKeeping faith with family, friends, or covenant partners.
• Kindness beyond dutyDoing more than the relationship strictly requires.
• MercyKindness shown to someone in need who has no claim to it.

In Ruth

• Chapter 1

  Naomi prays that the Lord show it to her daughters-in-law (1:8). It's the book's central word.

• Chapter 2

  Naomi blesses the Lord, whose loyal love has not left the living or the dead (2:20).

• Chapter 3

  Boaz says Ruth's latest act of loyal love is greater than her first (3:10).