Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness: Biblical Meaning And Praying The Names Of God.
- Karen O'Reilly
- Nov 17, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Yahweh Hesed is the Hebrew name of God meaning, God of forgiveness, His covenantal love for us and the Hebrew people. The Hebrew word, hesed is often translated as mercy, kindness, or lovingkindness. This Hebrew word, hesed describes the most wonderful attribute of God. It is difficult to convey the absolute true definition of hesed because there is not one English word that fully describes the real, true meaning of it. However, scripture beautifully defines the word, hesed and we will look at a few Bible verses describing hesed below.
Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness
They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them. Nehemiah 9:17.
Pronouncing The Name: yah-WEH KHEH-sed
This is Day 25 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness: Understanding the Name Of God
The Hebrew word hesed is found 249 times in 239 verses in the Hebrew Bible. It is often translated as mercy, kindness, or lovingkindness. When you add Yahweh to hesed, you get this beautiful name of God. It describes His attribute, God's loving-kindness. We discussed at the very beginning of this Bible study, the Names of God, His name Yahweh.
Yahweh is the Hebrew name of God meaning I Am, The Self-Existent One. I Am. He was. He is. He always has been and always will be. He is the Self-Existent One with no beginning and no end. Yahweh Hesed adds another dimension to His name. Just think about this truth, God-The Self-Existent One, who was, and is, and always will be, is full of forgiveness and loving-kindness toward you.
What is the meaning of God's loving-kindness?
Loving-kindness is part of who God is. There are many places in Scripture that speak of the lovingkindness of God. He delights in showing loving kindness Micah 7:18.
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!"
"I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name."
Lovingkindness, as it relates to the character of God, is most often used to describe God’s heart toward those who are His own. Lovingkindness is God’s kindness and steadfast love for His children.
Yahweh Hesed
Yahweh Hesed is more than just loving kindness. God's forgiveness is woven through His name too. So is His grace and love. We are so loved by God!
I just love what Micah had to say about Yahweh Hased (see above)- Who is like God? Did you notice this verse says that God delights to give us mercy?
That is why He sent Jesus. God in His compassion for us knew that there was nothing that we could do to earn salvation. So He had to give us the perfect gift of salvation through His Son Jesus. We don't deserve Him but we do need to receive this life changing gift of eternal life.
The Apostle Paul tells us that salvation is a gift. This is what he says:
Ephesians 2:8
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
We are saved by God's hesed, and there is nothing that we can do or stop doing that would ever be good enough to earn the love of God or His forgiveness. That is just a fact since the fall of man way back in the garden of Eden.
We can't achieve forgiveness through our own efforts but we can be saved through faith alone in God.
This is what Ephesians 1:7 says:
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Salvation and the blessings of God are His gifts to us. Our role is to just accept them and to repent of our sin.
Did you know that the word "repent" simply means to "turn away from"?
Here is what I like to call a truth bomb, when you choose to turn away from your sin and turn to God and His ways, then you are practicing true repentance.
Powerful living flows from a heart that has repented of every known sin and received God's gift of forgiveness.
Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness: Applying the name of God to your life:
Do you know God as Yahweh Hesed? Have you asked for forgiveness from Him?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Hesed-God Of Forgiveness affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Yahweh Hesed to you?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Hesed impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Yahweh Hesed?
Praying the Name Of God, Yahweh Hesed :
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation -it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Yahweh Hesed, you are praying to the One who is full of mercy, lovingkindness, and forgiveness.
Let's Pray:
Yahweh Hased, I ask for Your forgiveness. I have sinned but I chose to turn away from it. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Reveal to me those sins that I don't realize that I commit. I want to be in right standing with You. I surrender my life and plans to You. Thank you for Your faithfulness. Amen.
If you are intrigued by the names of God, you will love the Names of God study. Studying the names of God will impact your life. You will be encouraged by them and your faith can only grow deeper and stronger as you discover that God sees you as His treasure. He delights in you!
Grab your own printable/digital copy.
🎉Exciting News about our Names Of God Bible Study
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I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage.
Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Yahweh Tsidqenu-The Lord Our Righteousness.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
