Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, "favors" often refer to acts of kindness, grace, or preferential treatment bestowed by God or individuals upon others. The concept of favor is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's grace and mercy, as well as in human relationships characterized by benevolence and goodwill.
Divine FavorDivine favor is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, illustrating God's graciousness and benevolence towards His people. It is often associated with blessings, protection, and guidance. In the Old Testament, God's favor is seen in His covenant relationship with Israel. For instance, in
Genesis 6:8, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD," indicating God's choice to preserve Noah and his family from the flood due to his righteousness.
The favor of God is also evident in the lives of the patriarchs. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob experienced God's favor through promises of land, descendants, and blessings. In
Exodus 33:17, God assures Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name."
In the New Testament, divine favor is most profoundly expressed through the life and work of Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:52 notes, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." This verse highlights the harmonious relationship between divine favor and human response, as Jesus exemplified perfect obedience and grace.
Human FavorHuman favor involves acts of kindness and preferential treatment among individuals. It is often seen in the context of relationships, where one person shows special kindness or support to another. In the book of Esther, Queen Esther finds favor in the eyes of King Xerxes, which ultimately leads to the deliverance of the Jewish people (
Esther 5:2).
Proverbs frequently addresses the concept of favor, linking it to wisdom and righteousness.
Proverbs 3:3-4 advises, "Let loving devotion and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man." This passage underscores the importance of character and integrity in gaining favor.
Favor and GraceTheologically, favor is closely related to the concept of grace. While favor can be seen as a specific act of kindness or preference, grace is the unmerited favor of God towards humanity.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that salvation is a result of God's grace, not human effort, emphasizing the ultimate expression of divine favor.
Seeking FavorThe Bible encourages believers to seek God's favor through prayer, obedience, and humility.
Psalm 119:58 declares, "I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise." This verse reflects the psalmist's earnest desire for God's favor and grace.
In summary, the concept of favor in the Bible encompasses both divine and human dimensions, reflecting God's graciousness and the importance of righteous living in human relationships. Through divine favor, believers experience God's blessings and guidance, while human favor fosters goodwill and kindness among individuals.
Strong's Hebrew
2654a. chaphets -- to delight in... root Definition to delight in NASB Word Usage delight (15), delighted (7), delights
(8), desire (9), desired (3), desired* (1), desires (5),
favors (1), have
...7521. ratsah -- to be pleased with, accept favorably
... 11), accepted (6), approve (1), approved (1), delight (4), delights (2), enjoy
(2), enjoyed (1), favor (2), favorable (1), favored (2),favors (1), find...
1870. derek -- way, road, distance, journey, manner
... journey, manner NASB Word Usage actions (1), acts (1), conduct (11), course (2),
crooked* (2), direction (4), distance (1), example (1),favors (1), highway (4...
Library
WhetherFavors Should be Withheld from the Ungrateful?
... OF INGRATITUDE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whetherfavors should be withheld from the ungrateful?
Objection 1: It seems thatfavors should withheld from the ungrateful....
While ConstantineFavors the Christians, Licinius, his Colleague...
... The ECCLESIASTICAL HistorY, BY SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS. Book I. Chapter III."While
Constantinefavors the Christians, Licinius, his Colleague, persecutes them....
Scruples --HeavenlyFavors --Journey to Barcelona
... CHAPTER III SCRUPLES"HEAVENLYFAVORS"JOURNEY TO BARCELONA. At last his confessor,
without any suggestion on the part of the penitent...
Definition of Actual Grace
... In this sense the term frequently occurs in Latin and Greek literature (the Three
Graces). Charm elicits love and prompts a person to the bestowal offavors....
The First Commandment --On the Honor and Invocation of Saints
... Why, the very persons that say we should not use the influence of saints
do themselves use the influence of others to obtainfavors....
Whether it is Necessary for Salvation that we Should Show Our...
... For some of the signs andfavors of love are shown to our neighbors in general,
as when we pray for all the faithful, or for a whole people, or when anyone...
Whether Thankfulness is a Special virtue, Distinct from Other...
... man is loved. Therefore thankfulness or gratitude, to which it belongs
to repayfavors received, is not a special virtue. On the...
Whether a Man is Bound to Give Thanks to Every Benefactor?
... But somefavors are granted without grace, and are rudely, slowly and grudgingly
given.... But sometimes people bestowfavors for their own profit....
Whether in Giving Thanks we Should Look at the Benefactor's...
... the deed? Objection 1: It seems that in repayingfavors we should not
look at the benefactor's disposition but at the deed. For...
Third Sunday after Epiphany
... God. Consequently it is not Christian-like to injure them; rather, we should
extendfavors.... Coals here are benefits, orfavors. Coals...
Thesaurus
Favors (7 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Favors (7 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 20:11 There stood
by him one of Joab's young men, and said, "He who
favors...Porcupine (3 Occurrences)
... As to the rendering "bittern" for qippodh (Isaiah 14:23; Isaiah 34:15 Zephaniah
2:14), while the etymologyfavors "hedgehog," the contextfavors a bird...
Crystal (7 Occurrences)
... In Job 28:17 the contextfavors the King James Version "crystal," rather than
the Revised Version (British and American) "glass" (zekhukhith)....
Grace (277 Occurrences)
... that man, and "to look with favor" is one of the commonest Biblical paraphrases
for "bestow a blessing." Between "God's favor" and "God'sfavors" there exists...
Favoritism (7 Occurrences)
Zoan (7 Occurrences)
... of the Hyksos rulers, or "shepherd kings," in whose time Jacob came into Egypt,
and their monuments have been found at the site, whichfavors the conclusion...
Ungrateful (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not grateful; not thankful forfavors; making
no returns, or making ill return for kindness, attention, etc.; ungrateful....
Obliging (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Oblige. 2. (a.) Putting under obligation; disposed to oblige
or dofavors; hence, helpful; civil; kind. Multi-Version Concordance...
Josephus
... of Poppea, Nero's consort. The empress, a Jewish proselyte, espoused his
cause at Rome, and showed him manyfavors. At the capital...
Joab's (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 20:11 There stood by him one of Joab's young men, and said, "He whofavors
Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE...
Resources
Does God have favorites? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any evidence of the exodus? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I learn to stop blaming others for my problems? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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