Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him and whose hope is in His faithful hesed, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19 Adapted

Hesed, Hebrew, (agape, Greek); an unconditional extravagant love, the compulsion to give and to love without limit those who have no merit. An expression of compassion, mercy, faithfulness, and love bound by a free willed decision, not by obligation.

Hesed is one of the attributes of God’s character, maybe the attribute since His love encompasses all His other attributes (God is love). Hesed love cannot be defined or experienced apart from the fullness of God’s character. It is a supernatural, multifaceted love that is only realized, practiced, and experienced through God. Although not the same as human love, it can be experienced by humans (Jonathan and David, 1 Samuel 18:3; Ruth and Boaz, Ruth 3:10).

Hesed is variously translated loving-kindness, mercy, unfailing love, steadfast love, faithful love. Where you see these words in Bible translations, they are speaking of God’s hesed.

God’s hesed love is why God never gives up on His children, even though they repeatedly fall into idolatry and sin. It is the reason He sent His only Son on a rescue mission (John 3:16).

Source:

1. Inexpressible, Michael Card.
2. Charles Spurgeon.