W-plus Assignment for Psalm 101:1-8

‫( ֶ֫ח ֶסד‬che.sed)

My word: I have chosen to study the word “steadfast love,” which appears in my passage one time in
verse 1. The word is used 127 times in Psalms and 196 times in the Old Testament.

Range of meaning: The meaning is defined as “goodness,” “faithfulness,” or “kindness” from the
stepbible.org.

Word meaning in my passage: In my passage specifically, “steadfast love” is transliterated as

meaning “kindness” (H2617A). Some related words are “be kind” (cha.sad - ‫)ָחַסד‬, “to shame”
(cha.sad - ‫)ָחַסד‬, “shame” (che.sed - ‫)ֶ֫ח ֶסד‬, “pious” (cha.sid - ‫)ָחִסיד‬, or “stork” (cha.si.dah - ‫)ֲחִסיָד ה‬.

Significance of the word in my passage: Understanding this passage with the use of the “steadfast
love” meaning “kindness” gives it a deeper meaning that wasn’t there before. Longmann in the Tyndale
Old Testament Commentaries explains this word in light of the covenant loyalty God has with His people
(Israel) (p. 46). David is extolling God because of the depth of this type of relationship and is praising
God because of this relationship. God is kind because we deserve no relationship with Him. We are so
sinful, but God seeks after each of us in spite of that. He shows us that kindness through his relationship
with us.