Lexical Summary chen: favor, grace, gracious Original Word: חֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance favor, gracious, pleasant, precious, well-favored From chanan; graciousness, i.e. Subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) -- favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured. see HEBREW chanan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chanan Definition favor, grace NASB Translation adornment (1), charm (1), charm* (1), charming* (1), favor (51), grace (8), graceful (2), gracious (3), pleases* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. חֵן noun masculinePsalm 45:3 favour, grace; — ׳ח Genesis 6:8 67t.; suffix חִנּוֺ Genesis 39:21; — 1 favour, grace, elegance: a. of form and appearance, of a woman "" יֹ֑פִי Proverbs 31:30; אֵשֶׁת חֵן Proverbs 11:16; זונה טובת חן Nahum 3:4; of a doe Proverbs 5:19; precious stone אבן חן Proverbs 17:8; of ornaments Proverbs 1:9 = Proverbs 4:9; Proverbs 3:22. b. of speech, lips Psalm 45:3; Proverbs 22:11; words Ecclesiastes 10:12. 2 favour, acceptance: a. with men Proverbs 13:15; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 9:11. b. with God Zechariah 4:7 (twice in verse); Zechariah 12:10; chiefly in phrases: מצא חן בעיני find favour in the eyes of: (I) men Genesis 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 God Genesis 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 מצא חן (with man) Proverbs 28:23; (with God) Jeremiah 31:2; מֹצא חן לפניו Esther 8:5 (i.e. of the king); נתן חן בעיני give favour in the eyes of (I) man Genesis 39:21; Exodus 3:21; Exodus 11:3; Exodus 12:36 (J); absolute נתן חן of man Psalm 84:12; (2) of God Proverbs 3:34; נשׂא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי obtain favour in the eyes of Esther 2:15; of the king Esther 5:2; so וַתִּשָּׂאחֵֿן וָחֶסֶד לְפָנָיו Esther 2:17. Topical Lexicon Concept and Scope חֵן 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). 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. 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 wəḥênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 6:8 HEB: וְנֹ֕חַ מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ NAS: found favor in the eyes KJV: found grace in the eyes INT: Noah found favor the eyes of the LORD Genesis 18:3 Genesis 19:19 Genesis 30:27 Genesis 32:5 Genesis 33:8 Genesis 33:10 Genesis 33:15 Genesis 34:11 Genesis 39:4 Genesis 39:21 Genesis 47:25 Genesis 47:29 Genesis 50:4 Exodus 3:21 Exodus 11:3 Exodus 12:36 Exodus 33:12 Exodus 33:13 Exodus 33:13 Exodus 33:16 Exodus 33:17 Exodus 34:9 Numbers 11:11 Numbers 11:15 69 Occurrences |
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