hesed

  • Two Steps Forward

    So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. Ruth 1:22 NASB Returned – How are you going? No, it’s not a typo. It’s not “where are you going?” that matters at this moment. It’s “how.” The verbs used to describe Naomi’s return are quite interesting….

  • Reading What Isn’t There

    She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” Ruth 3:5 NASB You say – We are concerned when a translated text either adds or eliminates words. After all, this is sacred Scripture. Don’t mess with the text. But there are some cases where “messing with the text” is precisely what has been…

  • You Learn Where You Live

    Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Genesis 13:12 NASB Moved – Lot didn’t start out corrupted. In fact, there are Jewish legends that he attempted to demonstrate a life of righteousness even while living in Sodom. Perhaps…

  • Bending the Word – Rewind

    If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, and he shall bear…

  • Sacrifice Without the Temple

    “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NASB Good Works – It seems reasonable to suggest that Yeshua anticipated the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. It’s hard to read his teaching in Matthew 24 and…

  • Worship and Work

    We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 NIV Gifts – While the Greek heritage provides a rich texture for understanding the idea of gifting as the expression of joyful celebration, an even deeper context can be seen in the Hebrew thought patterns that lie behind Paul’s vocabulary. Charis is typically…

  • God’s Grandchildren

    But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, Psalm 103:17 NASB To children’s children – What’s the connection? Hesed operates between related parties. It isn’t like grace (hen). Hesed presupposes some already-existing connection. Once in place, hesed governs the continuing relationship…

  • Statute of Limitation

    But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, Psalm 103:17 NASB From everlasting to everlasting – “How far is it?” The nine-year-old in the backseat asked this question about every ten minutes until we arrived at the butterfly garden. But as…

  • The Untranslatable Word

    For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11 NASB Lovingkindness – hesed, of course. What else could David enlist that would cause YHVH to remain faithfully connected to such a sinner? Hesed has been thoroughly investigated by scholars. In fact, hundreds…

  • Ordering Our Thoughts

    O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NASB Good – Let’s read this verse in its literal Hebrew order. Hodu laYHVH ki tov ki leolam hasdo. Literally, “Thanks to YHVH for good for forever hesed his” (the pronoun is attached to the word). You…