חָסִיד (cha.sid)
cha.sid
pious
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chasid describes a person who is kind, loyal, and deeply committed to God. Derived from the root for covenant love, it points to someone whose life reflects active faithfulness rather than just belief. In the Psalms, it often refers to the "saints" or "godly ones" who trust in Jehovah (Psalm 30:4). This term captures a character defined by steady devotion and mercy toward others.
It is notable that chasid can also describe God Himself. In passages like Psalm 145:17, it translates as "gracious" or "merciful," showing that divine kindness mirrors the ideal human response. This dual use highlights a relationship where God’s steadfast love inspires similar loyalty in people. Translators often render it as "godly man" or "saint," emphasizing its focus on faithful living within the covenant community.
The word appears most frequently in Psalms, where it distinguishes those who walk uprightly from the deceitful (Psalm 12:1). It carries a sense of reliability and moral strength. By linking human piety to divine mercy, chasid offers a picture of faith that is both personal and relational, rooted in the enduring character of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chasid paints a picture of faith that is active and relational. It describes people who do not just hold beliefs but live them out through loyalty and kindness. In the Psalms, these are the godly ones who trust in God even when life feels overwhelming. Their devotion is not a solitary act but a response to God’s own steadfast love. This connection reminds us that our faithfulness flows from experiencing His mercy.
It is striking that this same word describes God Himself. When Psalm 145:17 calls Him gracious, it shows that divine kindness mirrors the ideal human response. We are invited to reflect that same reliability in our own lives. This dual use highlights a relationship where God’s steadfast love inspires similar loyalty in people.
Living as a chasid means walking uprightly within the covenant community. It carries a sense of moral strength and steady devotion. By linking human piety to divine mercy, this term offers a picture of faith that is both personal and relational. It encourages us to find our identity in God’s enduring character rather than our own perfection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- faithful [people]/ his6×
- and/ faithful [people]/ your3×
- faithful [people]2×
- faithful [one]/ your2×
- and/ faithful2×
- [am] faithful2×
- of/ faithful [people]/ his1×
- faithful [person]1×
- faithful [people]/ your1×
- faithful1×
- and/ faithful [people]/ its1×
- a faithful [person]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲסִידָ֗י/ו2×
- לַ/חֲסִידָֽי/ו\׃1×
- חָסִיד֙1×
- חָסִ֪יד1×
- חָסִ֨יד\׀1×
- חָסִ֤יד1×
- חָסִ֖יד1×
- חָסִ֑יד1×
- חֲסִידָי/ו֙1×
- חֲסִידָ֣י/ו1×
- חֲסִידָ֑י/ו1×
- חֲסִידָ֑/י1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 145:17
Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.
This verse applies the term directly to God, showing that His righteousness and graciousness are the foundation for human piety.
-
Psalms 32:6
For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.
Here the word identifies those who actively pray to God while He can be found, linking piety with timely dependence on Him.
-
Psalms 37:28
For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
The text connects God’s love for justice with His preservation of His saints, showing that faithfulness leads to enduring security.
-
Micah 7:2
The godly man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.
This occurrence highlights the rarity and value of such godly individuals in a corrupt society, emphasizing their moral integrity.