48 Agape vs. Châshaq, Ahab & Hesed

Remember! When I refer to person in the Godhead in any blog, I am referring either to singular person (one-of-three) or to the collective person (three-in-one) of the Triune.

In addition to the Greek word for God’s feelings, phileo, found in the New Testament, studious reader, there are various Hebrew words for God’s feelings found in the Old Testament.

For example: Deuteronomy 7:7, 8 “God did not set His love (châshaq) on you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves (ahab) you and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers . . .”

The Hebrew verb ahab (to love) is used of God in Deuteronomy 7:8 as is châshaq in the same verse.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew noun ahabah, love, comes from the verb “to love,” ahab, a word which conveys feeling and represents the emotional connotation of love at varying degrees of intensity and application. It appears in all periods of Hebrew history and around 250 times in the Bible. (Vine’s, pp. 141-142)

Châshaq means (figuratively) to love, to delight in (Strong’s #3836).

Yet another Hebrew word is laced with nuances of love as a feeling.

For example: Psalm 136:5-9 “To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy (hesed) endures forever; To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.”

Love with a sentimental component combined with more dominant features is found in the Hebrew noun hesed, “loving-kindness, steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness, goodness; devotion.” This word is used 240 times in the OT, most frequently in Psalms. It is used of God in Psalm 136:5-9 where even the Creation is a result of God’s hesed. (Vine’s, pp. 142-143)

All these words have emotional overtones.

Agape has none.

To be continued . . .