Hesed is the Hebrew word translated in the King James Version of the Bible as "lovingkindness." The word refers to the steadfast, covenant keeping love of God. In Judaism it is perhaps the most important concept, that when God makes a covenant there is no reason to ever doubt it is as eternal as He is. Jewish scholars and mystics see the hesed (or chesed) love of God as the active and operative force in creation. God pre-determined all things prior to actually creating the universe and knew already how that would work out. He knew that those created in His image would do all things we have done to His creation. Because of that hesed love He created anyway. He loves those created in His image and continues to forebear with us as a species and as individuals because He predetermined to love us. Jesus is the greatest expression of that love and the cross the supreme act of hesed.
