The concept of "prefer" in the Bible often relates to the idea of choosing or valuing one thing or person over another. This notion is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, where choices and preferences often reflect one's values, priorities, and spiritual commitments.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of preference is frequently illustrated through the choices made by individuals and nations. For example, in the account of Jacob and Esau, Jacob's preference for the birthright and blessing over immediate gratification is a pivotal moment (Genesis 25:29-34). This preference is later affirmed by God, who declares, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated" (Malachi 1:2-3), indicating a divine preference based on covenantal purposes rather than human merit.

The Psalms also reflect the theme of preference, particularly in the context of worship and devotion. Psalm 84:10 states, "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked" . Here, the psalmist expresses a preference for God's presence over worldly comforts.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, preference is often linked to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles regarding discipleship and the kingdom of God. Jesus challenges His followers to prefer Him above all else, even family and personal desires. In Luke 14:26, Jesus states, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple" . This hyperbolic language underscores the necessity of prioritizing one's relationship with Christ above all earthly ties.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of preference in his epistles. In Philippians 1:23-24, Paul expresses his personal preference, saying, "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" . Here, Paul balances his preference for being with Christ with his responsibility to serve the church.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of preference in the Bible underscores the importance of aligning one's choices with God's will and purposes. It challenges believers to evaluate their priorities and to choose what is eternally significant over what is temporally appealing. This is evident in the call to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

Moreover, divine preference is a recurring theme, particularly in the context of election and grace. God's sovereign choice is seen in His selection of Israel as His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) and in the New Testament doctrine of election, where believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

Practical Application

In practical terms, the biblical concept of preference calls Christians to make choices that reflect their commitment to God and His kingdom. This involves prioritizing spiritual growth, community, and service over personal gain and comfort. It also encourages believers to cultivate a heart that values what God values, leading to a life that honors Him in all aspects.1. (v. t.) To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.

2. (v. t.) To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass.

3. (v. t.) To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general.

4. (v. t.) To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above.

PREFER

pre-fur': Does not always have the general meaning "to choose before another." In Psalm 137:6, it does have this sense and the two versions agree; in Esther 2:9, the Revised Version (British and American) has "removed" where the King James Version has "preferred"; in Daniel 6:3, "distinguished" takes its place; in John 1:15, 30, "become" is substituted for "preferred"; in 1:27, "preferred" drops out entirely; in Romans 12:10, the versions agree.

138. haireo -- to take, choose
... to take, choose. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: haireo Phonetic Spelling:
(hahee-reh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I choose, prefer Definition: I choose ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/138.htm - 7k

4285. proegeomai -- to go before (as a leader)
... proegeomai Phonetic Spelling: (pro-ay-geh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I lead onward
by example Definition: I lead onward by example, go before, prefer. ... prefer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4285.htm - 7k

2106. eudokeo -- to think well of, ie to be well-pleased
... Word Usage am well content (1), am well-pleased (5), been pleased (1), chosen gladly
(1), good pleasure (1), has...pleasure (1), pleased (2), prefer (1), taken ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2106.htm - 8k

2309. thelo -- to will, wish
... option from subjective impulse; whereas boulomai properly denotes rather a passive
acquiescence in objective considerations), ie Choose or prefer (literally or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2309.htm - 11k

1101. glossokomon -- a case, a box
... glossokomon Phonetic Spelling: (gloce-sok'-om-on) Short Definition: bag, purse,
box, chest Definition: (a vernacular word), bag, purse; some prefer to take as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1101.htm - 6k

1807. exaireo -- to take out, to deliver
... 1807 (from 1537 , "completely out ," intensifying 138 , "personally choose, prefer") --
properly, remove ("totally from"), ie bring into a " (full removal).". ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1807.htm - 7k

2919. krino -- to judge, decide
... We only (2919 ) accurately by based on God's word, ie to approve (prefer)
what is correct and reject what is inferior (wrong). [2919 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2919.htm - 11k

4299. prokrima -- a prejudice
... prejudice, bias. From a compound of pro and krino; a prejudgment (prejudice), ie
Prepossession -- prefer one before another. see GREEK pro. see GREEK krino. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4299.htm - 7k

4255. proaireo -- to bring forth or forward
... purpose. From pro and haireomai; to choose for oneself before another thing (prefer),
ie (by implication) to propose (intend) -- purpose. see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4255.htm - 6k

5869. ayin -- an eye
... looked* (3), looks* (1), maliciously* (1), notice (1), outward appearance (1), own
eyes (1), please* (3), pleased* (14), pleases* (1), prefer* (2), presence (8 ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k

8138. shanah -- to repeat, do again
... transmute (transitive or intransitive) -- do (speak, strike) again, alter, double,
(be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return ...
/hebrew/8138.htm - 6k

7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... 7), evildoer (2), evildoers (16), evildoing (1), grieved (1), hard (1), harm (1),
harming (1), hostile (3), hurt (3), practiced evil (1), prefer* (2), sad (2 ...
/hebrew/7489a.htm - 6k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,
(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

I Prefer, He Says, to Receive Christ's Baptism Where Both Parties ...
... Book I. Chapter 5. " 6. I prefer, he says, to receive Christ's baptism
where both parties agree that? "6. I prefer, he says ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 5 6 i.htm

Geminius of Furni Said: "Certain of Our Colleagues May Prefer ...
... Book VII. Chapter 23. " 44. Geminius of Furni said: "Certain of our
colleagues may prefer heretics to themselves? "44. Geminius ...
/.../chapter 23 44 geminius.htm

(Of those who Ought not to be Admitted to Prefer an Accusation, or ...
... V. (Of those who ought not to be admitted to prefer an accusation, or to bear witness;
and that evidence is not to be given but on things happening in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/v of those who ought.htm

All I desire is God's Holy Will, and if in Heaven I could no ...
... LETTERS TO HER BROTHER MISSIONARIES IV All I desire is God's Holy Will, and if in
Heaven I could no longer work for His glory, I should prefer exile to Home. . ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/iv all i desire is.htm

Being Led, However, from this to Prefer the Catholic Doctrine...
... Book VI Chapter V Being led, however, from this to prefer the Catholic doctrine?
Being led, however, from this to prefer the Catholic ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter v being led however.htm

Petilianus Said: "You, Therefore, who Prefer Rather to be Washed ...
... Book II. Chapter 102. " 231. Petilianus said: "You, therefore, who prefer
rather to be washed with the most? "231. Petilianus ...
/.../chapter 102 231 petilianus.htm

But on the Question Whether we Ought to Prefer a Catholic of The.. ...
... Book IV. Chapter 20. " 28. But on the question whether we ought to prefer
a Catholic of the? "28. But on the question whether ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 20 28 but.htm

Petilianus Said: "Choose, in Short, which of the Two Alternatives ...
... Petilianus said: "Choose, in short, which of the two alternatives you prefer.? ...
Petilianus said: "Choose, in short, which of the two alternatives you prefer. ...
/.../chapter 97 220 petilianus.htm

That, Being Redeemed and Quickened by the Blood of Christ, we ...
... 6. That, being redeemed and quickened by the blood of Christ, we ought
to prefer nothing to Christ. In the Gospel the Lord speaks ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/6 that being redeemed and.htm

Trypho Compares Jesus with Perseus; and Would Prefer [To Say] that ...
... Chapter LXVII."Trypho compares Jesus with Perseus; and would prefer [to say] that
He was elected [to be Christ] on account of observance of the law. ...
/.../chapter lxvii trypho compares jesus with.htm

Prefer (10 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office
or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the ...
/p/prefer.htm - 10k

Sure (142 Occurrences)
... use, however, is common (chiefly for 'aman, "to confirm," and its derivatives) in
English Versions of the Bible, where modern English would prefer "secure" or ...
/s/sure.htm - 40k

Surely (587 Occurrences)
... use, however, is common (chiefly for 'aman, "to confirm," and its derivatives) in
English Versions of the Bible, where modern English would prefer "secure" or ...
/s/surely.htm - 39k

Prefects (18 Occurrences)

/p/prefects.htm - 12k

Nest (22 Occurrences)
... Eagles use a large heap of coarse sticks and twigs on the cleft of a mountain (Job
39:27 Jeremiah 49:16 Obadiah 1:4); hawks prefer trees; vultures, hollow ...
/n/nest.htm - 18k

Og (22 Occurrences)
... Some, however, prefer to suppose that what is intended is "a sarcophagus of black
basalt," which iron-like substance abounds in the Hauran. ...
/o/og.htm - 17k

Rent (76 Occurrences)
... and Vulgate and Revised Version, or as some prefer interpreting the phrase, "girdle
and robe are torn [ie, are `a rent'] by the hand of violence.". ...
/r/rent.htm - 32k

Elhanan (4 Occurrences)
... Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff
of whose spear was like a weaver's beam." Most modern critics prefer as the ...
/e/elhanan.htm - 10k

Person (807 Occurrences)
... of this article to make as clear as possible the conception of the Person of Christ,
in the technical sense of that term, which lies on-or, if we prefer to say ...
/p/person.htm - 49k

Promote (21 Occurrences)
... venture. 2. (vt) To exalt in station, rank, or honor; to elevate; to raise;
to prefer; to advance; as, to promote an officer. 3. (vi ...
/p/promote.htm - 12k

Should a Christian be a Republican or a Democrat? Should a Christian be a conservative or a liberal/progressive? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians use the preferred pronouns of transgender individuals when referring to them? | GotQuestions.org

Does a Christian have two natures? | GotQuestions.org

Prefer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus