Lexical Summary
chen: favor, grace, gracious
Original Word:חֵן
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:chen
Pronunciation:khane
Phonetic Spelling:(khane)
KJV: favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured
NASB:favor, grace, gracious, graceful, adornment, charm
Word Origin:[fromH2603 (חָנַן - To be gracious)]
1. graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
favor, gracious, pleasant, precious, well-favored
Fromchanan; graciousness, i.e. Subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) -- favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured.
see HEBREWchanan
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chananDefinitionfavor, grace
NASB Translationadornment (1), charm (1), charm* (1), charming* (1), favor (51), grace (8), graceful (2), gracious (3), pleases* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Psalm 45:3 ; —
Genesis 6:8 67t.; suffix
Genesis 39:21; —
favour, grace, elegance:
ofform and appearance, of a woman ""Proverbs 31:30;Proverbs 11:16;Nahum 3:4; of a doeProverbs 5:19; precious stoneProverbs 17:8; of ornamentsProverbs 1:9 =Proverbs 4:9;Proverbs 3:22.
ofspeech, lipsPsalm 45:3;Proverbs 22:11; wordsEcclesiastes 10:12.
favour, acceptance:
with menProverbs 13:15;Proverbs 22:1;Ecclesiastes 9:11.
with GodZechariah 4:7 (twice in verse);Zechariah 12:10; chiefly in phrases:find favour in the eyes of: (I)menGenesis 30:27;Genesis 32:6;Genesis 33:8,10,15;Genesis 34:11;Genesis 39:4;Genesis 47:25,29;Genesis 50:4;Numbers 32:5 (all J);Deuteronomy 24:1;Ruth 2:2,10,13;1 Samuel 1:18;1 Samuel 16:22;1 Samuel 20:3,29;1 Samuel 25:8;1 Samuel 27:5;2 Samuel 14:22;2 Samuel 16:4;1 Kings 11:19;Esther 5:8;Esther 7:3; (2)of GodGenesis 6:8;Genesis 18:3;Genesis 19:19;Exodus 33:12,13 (twice in verse);Exodus 33:16,17;Exodus 34:9;Numbers 11:11,15 (all J);Judges 6:17;2 Samuel 15:25;Proverbs 3:4; absolute (with man)Proverbs 28:23; (with God)Jeremiah 31:2;Esther 8:5 (i.e. of the king);give favour in the eyes of (I) manGenesis 39:21;Exodus 3:21;Exodus 11:3;Exodus 12:36 (J); absolute of manPsalm 84:12; (2) of GodProverbs 3:34;obtain favour in the eyes ofEsther 2:15; of the kingEsther 5:2; soEsther 2:17.
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Scopeחֵן embraces the ideas of favor, gracious kindness, acceptance, attractiveness, and the goodwill that one person—or God Himself—extends toward another. While its English counterpart is often “grace” or “favor,” Scripture illustrates the term through concrete acts of mercy and delight rather than abstract theory. Nearly every occurrence links חֵן to relationship: someone finds חֵן “in the eyes” of another, receives חֵן from God, or embodies חֵן in word and deed.
Patterns of Usage
1. The idiom “find favor in the eyes of” (מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי) dominates the corpus (Genesis 6:8;Genesis 39:4;Ruth 2:10).
2. As a divine attribute, חֵן underscores God’s covenantal compassion (Exodus 34:6–9;Psalm 84:11).
3. In wisdom and poetic texts, it accents moral beauty and persuasive speech (Proverbs 3:4;Proverbs 22:1;Song of Solomon 4:10).
4. Prophets employ the term eschatologically, anticipating a climactic outpouring of grace (Jeremiah 31:2;Zechariah 12:10).
5. Historical narratives apply חֵן to royal audiences (Esther 5:2), administrative promotion (Nehemiah 2:5), and intercessory pleas (1 Samuel 1:18).
Grace in the Primeval and Patriarchal Narratives
Genesis sets the theological tone. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). In the midst of universal corruption, חֵן signals electing mercy and the preservation of a remnant. Later, patriarchal accounts repeat the motif: Jacob seeks Esau’s favor (Genesis 32:5); Joseph “gained favor in his sight and became his personal attendant” (Genesis 39:4). Each scene illustrates divine providence operating through human channels of חֵן.
Covenant Mediation through Moses
Moses’ intercession after the golden-calf crisis highlights חֵן as the ground of restored fellowship: “You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight’ ” (Exodus 33:12). The ensuing petition—“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Exodus 33:15)—demonstrates that חֵן secures both forgiveness and ongoing guidance. The narrative reveals that the Sinai covenant depends not merely on law but on divine grace acting for an undeserving people.
Favor in Israel’s Royal and Exilic Stories
Davidic episodes show חֵן operating between king and subjects (2 Samuel 15:25). During the exile and return, the motif re-emerges: “But now for a brief moment the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a secure hold in His holy place” (Ezra 9:8). Nehemiah repeatedly prays for חֵן before Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:4–8), teaching that divine favor can move pagan rulers to advance God’s purposes.
Wisdom Literature and the Aesthetics of Grace
Proverbs portrays חֵן as both social capital and moral excellence: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you… Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3–4). The same book warns that external charm divorced from fear of the LORD is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30). Psalms extol the Messiah-King whose lips “have been anointed with grace” (Psalm 45:2), foreshadowing a greater prophetic fulfillment.
Prophetic Hope and Messianic Overtones
Jeremiah 31:2 recalls חֵן in the wilderness as a paradigm for future restoration: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness.” Zechariah anticipates the climactic age: “I will pour out on the house of David… a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). The double cry of “Grace, grace to it!” over Zerubbabel’s capstone (Zechariah 4:7) pictures temple completion by divine empowerment, prefiguring the ultimate cornerstone of redemption.
Liturgical and Devotional Application
Old Testament saints pleaded for חֵן in personal distress (Psalm 123:2–3), corporate lament (Lamentations 5:21), and priestly blessing (Numbers 6:25). The repeated petitions model humble dependence on unmerited kindness and encourage believers to approach the throne of grace confidently.
Ministry Implications
1. Pastoral teaching should highlight חֵן as the unifying thread between Old and New Covenants, grounding salvation history in God’s unchanging benevolence.
2. Discipleship can stress both receiving and reflecting חֵן—cultivating winsome speech, generous hospitality, and merciful judgment.
3. Evangelism gains theological depth when the doctrine of grace is traced from Noah through the Prophets to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
Christological Fulfillment and New Testament Continuity
While חֵן itself is Hebrew, its essence is picked up by the Greek χάρις. The Gospel writers summarize Jesus’ upbringing: “And the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). John testifies, “Out of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16). Thus the Old Testament’s 69 occurrences of חֵן serve as a preparatory chorus that finds crescendo in the redeeming work of the Son, the One who embodies and distributes the favor of God without measure.
Forms and Transliterations
הַ֭חֵן החן וְ֝חֵ֗ן וחן חִנּ֔וֹ חֵ֑ן חֵ֓ן חֵ֔ן חֵ֖ן חֵ֛ן חֵ֜ן חֵ֣ן חֵ֤ן חֵ֥ן חֵ֨ן חֵ֭ן חֵֽן׃ חֵן֙ חֵן֮ חן חן׃ חנו chen chinNo ha·ḥên Hachen haḥên ḥên ḥin·nōw ḥinnōw veChen wə·ḥên wəḥên
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