Bible Encyclopedias

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Kindness

kı̄nd´nes ( חסד , ḥeṣedh ; χρηστότης , chrēstótēs ): "Kindness" in the Old Testament is (with one exception) the translation of ḥeṣedh , "kindness," "favor," "mercy," etc., used chiefly of man but also of God ( Genesis 20:13; Genesis 40:14; 1 Samuel 15:6; 1 Samuel 20:14 , 1 Samuel 20:15; 2 Samuel 9:3; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 141:5; Isaiah 54:8 , Isaiah 54:10 , etc.); ṭōbh , "good," is once so translated (2 Samuel 2:6 ). In the New Testament chrēstotēs , "usefulness," "beneficence," is rendered "kindness" 4 t in the King James Version (2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 2:7; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:4 , and in Galatians 5:22 the Revised Version (British and American)); see GENTLENESS; GOODNESS . Philanthrōpı̄a , "love of mankind," is translated "kindness" Acts 28:2 ), and philadelphı̄a , "love of the brotherhood" (2 Peter 1:7 , the English Revised Version "love of the brethren," the American Revised Version margin "Gr, love of the brethren").

For "kindness" (Psalm 31:21 ) the Revised Version (British and American) has "lovingkindness," and the American Standard Revised Version in other places where the reference is to God; for "shew," "shewed kindness" (Joshua 2:12 ) "deal," "dealt kindly"; for "The desire of man is his kindness" (Proverbs 19:22 ) the American Standard Revised Version has "That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness," the English Revised Version "The desire of man is (the measure of) his kindness," like the American Standard Revised Version in m; for "merciful kindness" (Psalm 117:2 ) the American Standard Revised Version has "lovingkindness," the English Revised Version "mercy "; both have "lovingkindness" (Psalm 119:76 ); for "of great kindness" (Nehemiah 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2 ) the American Standard Revised Version has "abundant in lovingkindness," the English Revised Version "plenteous in mercy"; the Revised Version (British and American) has "kindness" for "mercy" (Genesis 39:21 ); for "pity" (Job 6:14 ); for "goodness" (Proverbs 20:6 ); "favor and kindness" the American Standard Revised Version, for "grace and favor" (Esther 2:17 ). See LOVINGKINDNESS; MERCY .