Editing Hasid (section)

==Hebrew etymology==
The Hebrew word ''Ḥasīd'' appears for the first time in the [[Torah]] <small>(Deuteronomy 33:8)</small> with respect to the [[tribe of Levi]], and all throughout the Hebrew [[Book of Psalms]], with its various declensions.<ref>[[Torah]]: {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|33:8|HE}}, translated as "thy holy one"; [[Book of psalms|Book of Psalms:]] {{bibleverse|Psalm|4:4|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|12:2|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|16:10|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|18:26|HE}}, translated here as "the merciful"; {{bibleverse|Psalm|31:24|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|37:28|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|145:17|HE}}, translated here as "gracious"; {{bibleverse|Psalm|149:1|HE}}, translated here as "saints"; {{bibleverse|Psalm|32:6|HE}}, translated as "one that is godly"; {{bibleverse|Psalm|86:2|HE}}, translated as "godly", ''etc.''</ref> In classic [[rabbinic literature]] it differs from "[[Tzadik]]" ("righteous") by instead denoting one who goes beyond his ordinary duty. The literal meaning of ''Ḥasīd'' derives from [[Chesed]] ({{Script/Hebrew|חסד}}) (= "kindness"), the outward expression of love (lovingkindness) for God and other people. This spiritual devotion motivates pious conduct beyond everyday limits. The devotional nature of its description lent itself to a few Jewish movements in history being known as "Hasidim". Two of these derived from the Jewish [[Jewish mysticism|mystical tradition]], as it could tend towards piety over legalism.

Rabbi [[Saadia Gaon]], the medieval Hebrew linguist and biblical exegete, translated the Hebrew word ''Ḥasīd'' in Psalm 18:25 into the [[Judeo-Arabic]] word {{Script/Hebrew|אלמחסן}}, meaning, "he that does good."<ref>{{Cite book|last= Saadia Gaon|author-link= Saadia Gaon|title= Book of Psalms, with a Translation and Commentary made by Rabbi Saadia Gaon (תהלים עם תרגום ופירוש הגאון רבינו סעדיה בן יוסף פיומי זצ"ל)|editor= Qafih, Yosef|editor-link=Yosef Qafih |publisher= Makhon Moshe (Makhon Mishnat haRambam)|location= Kiryat-Ono|page= 80 |year=2010|language=he|oclc=741156698}}, s.v. Psalm 18:26</ref>