God’s Love

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!” Psalm 36:7

 Sometimes, it is impossible to translate Hebrew into English and give the word’s full meaning. The Hebrew word for lovingkindness in Psalm 36:7 is one such word. Did you know that the words Amen,  Canon, Cherub, Jubilee, Hallelujah, Hosanna, and      Jacket are Hebrew words that we use in English?  When it comes to translating Hebrew to English, one Hebrew scholar wrote, “I wish the same had happened with חֶסֶד (chesed), for there is no simple equivalent in our language.”

Chesed is translated as lovingkindness but does not fully convey the word’s meaning. It is also translated as unfailing love, steadfast love, mercy,  faithfulness, goodness, graciousness, desire, zeal,  devotion, and benevolence. It is very easy just to read, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God” and not understand the implication that the Hebrew conveys. Brad Bird wrote, “Attempting to squeeze a huge word like chesed into one tiny English word is like trying to catch a waterfall in a cup.”

When David wrote this Psalm, he was expressing the love that God has for us in a Hebrew word for love that is untranslatable. It is the love that God has for His sheep. A love that sent His Son to die for the elect.   A love that pursues us and keeps us in Him until the day we see Him face to face.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark