The term "ill-favored" appears in the Bible to describe something or someone that is unattractive, undesirable, or lacking in beauty. This term is often used in a metaphorical sense to convey deeper spiritual or moral truths. The most notable occurrence of "ill-favored" is found in the account of Pharaoh's dreams in the Book of Genesis.

Biblical Reference:

In Genesis 41, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, has two dreams that trouble him. In the first dream, he sees seven healthy and well-favored cows being devoured by seven other cows that are "ill-favored and gaunt." The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as follows:

"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: 'In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up—sickly, ugly, and gaunt. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. And the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that came up first.'" (Genesis 41:17-20)

Joseph, who is called upon to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, explains that the seven ill-favored cows represent seven years of famine that will follow seven years of abundance in Egypt. The ill-favored cows symbolize the severity and harshness of the famine, which will consume the prosperity of the previous years.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The use of "ill-favored" in this context serves as a powerful symbol of impending hardship and divine warning. The unattractive and gaunt appearance of the cows is indicative of the dire conditions that will prevail during the years of famine. This imagery underscores the theme of divine providence and the importance of heeding God's warnings through His chosen messengers.

From a theological perspective, the account of Pharaoh's dreams and the ill-favored cows highlights the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations and individuals. It demonstrates how God can use even the most unlikely circumstances to fulfill His purposes and to prepare His people for future challenges.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

The concept of being "ill-favored" can also be applied to moral and spiritual conditions. Just as the ill-favored cows represented a time of physical scarcity, individuals or societies that are spiritually "ill-favored" may experience a lack of spiritual vitality and moral integrity. This serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual vigilance and the pursuit of righteousness.

In summary, the term "ill-favored" in the Bible is rich with symbolic meaning, illustrating the consequences of neglecting divine guidance and the importance of spiritual preparedness. Through the narrative of Pharaoh's dreams, believers are encouraged to trust in God's wisdom and to remain faithful during times of trial and uncertainty.(a.) Wanting beauty or attractiveness; deformed; ugly; ill-looking.ILL; ILL-FAVORED

il, il-fa'-verd.

See EVIL-FAVOREDNESS.

What Things Befell Joseph in Prison.
... going from the river to the marshes; and other kine of the same number like them,
met them out of the marshes, exceeding lean and ill-favored, which ate up the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 what things befell.htm

Conversion.
... There is a man of an ill-favored countenance who hath too high a conceit of his
heauty, and wanting the benefit of a glass, he still stands in his own conceit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xi conversion.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book V.
... in the bud; persuading his accusers, even if they be the most unreasonable of all
men, and to omit nothing which is able to dispel an ill-favored report. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 5.htm

The Hardening of Nations.
... boast ourselves. If we had been planted in such dry ground, we should probably
have grown up just as thin and ill-favored. To measure ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxv the hardening of nations.htm

The Margin of the Nile
... It is past understanding why she exacts obedience to this law most diligently, which
fathers these ill-favored images of her gods, when their habitations are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiv the margin of.htm

Matt. xxii. 15
... is like to a fair and well-favored woman, needing nothing external, but having her
beauty from nature; but that to some ugly and ill-favored harlot, wearing ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxx matt xxii 15.htm

The Era of Persecution
... Here he was, in the front row, on a low balcony, in a group of vestals and curule
magistrates,"with his ill-favored countenance, his short sight, his blue ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/iii the era of persecution.htm

Acts xv. 35
... What profit is it, when your mules indeed are white and plump and in good condition,
but you who are drawn by them are lean and scurvy and ill-favored? ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxiv acts xv 35.htm

Matt. x. 23
... For surely, didst thou see an ill-favored woman wearing a beautiful mask, she would
make no impression on thee: just as on the other hand, neither wouldest ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxiv matt x 23.htm

1 Cor. xv. 11
... strong, and softer instead of firm, and sickly instead of healthful, and heavier
instead of light, and slighter instead of compact, and ill-favored instead of ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxix 1 cor xv.htm

Illfavored
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ILL; ILL-FAVORED.
il, il-fa'-verd. See EVIL-FAVOREDNESS. ...
/i/illfavored.htm - 6k

Ill-favored (5 Occurrences)
Ill-favored. Illfavored, Ill-favored. Ill-favoured . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
So I awoke. (ASV WBS). Illfavored, Ill-favored. Ill-favoured . Reference ...
/i/ill-favored.htm - 8k

Lean (22 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river,
illfavored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the ...
/l/lean.htm - 14k

Ill-favoured (4 Occurrences)
Ill-favoured. Ill-favored, Ill-favoured. Ill-formed . ... Genesis 41:4 And the
ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. ...
/i/ill-favoured.htm - 7k

Favored (19 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river,
illfavored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the ...
/f/favored.htm - 12k

Kine (24 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river,
illfavored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the ...
/k/kine.htm - 16k

Lean-fleshed (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river,
ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the ...
/l/lean-fleshed.htm - 7k

Leanfleshed (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river,
illfavored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the ...
/l/leanfleshed.htm - 7k

Ill (137 Occurrences)
... ILL; ILL-FAVORED. il, il-fa'-verd. ... (KJV JPS ASV WBS). Genesis 41:4 And the illfavored
and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. ...
/i/ill.htm - 35k

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