The meaning of Favor in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
fa'-ver (chen, ratson, with other Hebrew words; charis): Means generally good will, acceptance, and the benefits flowing from these; in older usage it meant also the countenance, hence, appearance. Alternating in English Versions of the Bible with "grace," it is used chiefly of man, but sometimes also of God (Genesis 18:3; Genesis 30:27; Genesis 39:21; Exodus 3:21; II Samuel 15:25, "in the eyes of Yahweh," etc.). It is used perhaps in the sense of "countenance" in Proverbs 31:30, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain" (the King James Version), where for "favor" the Revised Version (British and American) has "grace"; the reference is to external appearance. "Favored" is used in the sense of "appearance" in the phrase "well-favored" (Genesis 29:17; Genesis 39:6; Genesis 41:2, Genesis 41:4).; conversely, "ill-favored" (Genesis 41:3-4). For "favor" the Revised Version (British and American) has "have pity on" (Psalms 109:12), "good will" (Proverbs 14:9), "peace" (Song of Solomon 8:10); the English Revised Version "grace" (Ruth 2:13), the American Standard Revised Version "kindness" (Esther 2:17; Daniel 1:9), etc. In the American Standard Revised Version "the acceptable year of the Lord" (Isaiah 61:2) is changed Into "the year of Yahweh's favor"; "Do I now persuade men" (Galatians 1:10) into, "Amos I now seeking the favor of men," and there are other the Revised Version (British and American) changes.
W. L. Walker
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