The term "well-favoured" appears in the Bible to describe individuals who possess physical beauty or are otherwise attractive in appearance. This term is often used to highlight the favor or blessing that such individuals receive, either from God or from others, due to their appealing looks. The concept of being well-favoured is not merely about physical appearance but can also imply a sense of grace or charm that elicits positive attention and favor.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 29:17 · "Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful." In this passage, Rachel is described as being well-favoured in contrast to her sister Leah. Rachel's beauty is noted as a significant factor in Jacob's love for her, illustrating how physical attractiveness can influence relationships and decisions.

2. Genesis 39:6 · "So he left in Joseph’s care everything he owned; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome." Joseph's well-favoured appearance is mentioned in the context of his service in Potiphar's house. His attractiveness plays a role in the narrative, as it leads to Potiphar's wife's attempted seduction, which ultimately results in Joseph's imprisonment.

3. 1 Samuel 16:12 · "So Jesse sent for him and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one.'" David is described as well-favoured when he is chosen by God to be anointed as king. His appearance is noted alongside his divine selection, suggesting that his physical attributes were part of his overall favor in God's eyes.

4. Esther 2:7 · "And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely in form and features, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her in as his own daughter." Esther's well-favoured appearance is a key element in her account, as it leads to her selection as queen and positions her to save her people. Her beauty is seen as a divine gift that plays a crucial role in God's providential plan.

Theological Implications:

In the biblical context, being well-favoured is often associated with divine favor and purpose. While physical beauty is acknowledged, it is frequently accompanied by a deeper spiritual or moral quality that aligns with God's plans. The narratives of well-favoured individuals often reveal that their attractiveness serves a greater purpose within God's sovereign design.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, physical beauty was often seen as a sign of divine blessing. The biblical accounts reflect this cultural understanding, where beauty could lead to social and political advantages. However, the Bible also cautions against valuing outward appearance over inner character, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

The concept of being well-favoured challenges believers to consider the balance between external beauty and internal virtue. While the Bible acknowledges the impact of physical appearance, it consistently emphasizes the importance of inner qualities such as righteousness, integrity, and faithfulness. The accounts of well-favoured individuals serve as reminders that true favor comes from aligning one's life with God's will and purposes.2580. chen -- favor, grace
... From chanan; graciousness, ie Subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) --
favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured. ...
/hebrew/2580.htm - 6k

2896. towb -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure,
precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ((-favoured)). ...
/hebrew/2896.htm - 6k

Joseph and his Brethren
... And Joseph was comely and well favoured. ... And, behold, there came up out of the river
seven kine, well favoured and fatfleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/i joseph and his brethren.htm

Due Measure must be Observed in Liberality, that it May not be ...
... This was the king's first dream. [492] Seven heifers came up out of the river
well-favoured and fat-fleshed, and they fed at the banks of the river. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi due measure must.htm

About the Demon that Dwelt in the Woman.
... O the shamelessness of the enemy! O the sorcerer that is never at rest! O the
ill-favoured one, bring to subjection the well-favoured! O the many-formed one! ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the demon that dwelt.htm

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick
... The well-favoured Goat, aged five years, wears a brilliant yellow cotton jacket,
on which are sketched in bold brush work every species of venomous insect. ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxii preaching the gospel.htm

The Gods of the Different Nations Varro's Gentile Class. Their ...
... proofs of true interpretation which he had given in the prison, he opens out his
dream to the king: those seven fat-fleshed and well-favoured kine signified as ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter viii the gods of the.htm

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. . ...
... which prey upon all, and incorporate all in themselves, and yet, like the lean kine
that had devoured the fat, are never the fatter or more well-favoured. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter v humility is the.htm

Nahum's Doom of Nineveh
... Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot, The mistress
of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, And families ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/xi nahums doom of nineveh.htm

A Revival Sermon
... Lo, I see in Whitfield's time, seven bullocks coming up from the river, fat and
well-favoured, and since then we have lived to see seven lean kine come up from ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a revival sermon.htm

Chapter xli
... were approaching, this announcement could hardly have been made plainer in the language
of dreams than by showing to Pharaoh seven wellfavoured kine coming up ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xli.htm

Question of the Contemplative Life
... contemplative life is something beautiful in the soul," and it is for this reason
that it is said to be typified by Rachel, for She was well-favoured and of a ...
/.../on prayer and the contemplative life/question clxxx of the contemplative.htm

Wellfavoured (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wellfavoured (1 Occurrence). Nahum 3:4 Because
of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot ...
/w/wellfavoured.htm - 6k

Well-favoured (4 Occurrences)
Well-favoured. Wellfavoured, Well-favoured. Well-fed . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS DBY). Wellfavoured, Well-favoured. Well-fed . Reference Bible
/w/well-favoured.htm - 7k

Grazed (3 Occurrences)
... Grazed (3 Occurrences). Genesis 41:2 And, behold, there came up out of the river
seven kine, well-favoured and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. ...
/g/grazed.htm - 7k

Well-favored (7 Occurrences)
Well-favored. Welleth, Well-favored. Wellfavoured . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
(ASV WBS). Welleth, Well-favored. Wellfavoured . Reference Bible.
/w/well-favored.htm - 8k

Well-fed (2 Occurrences)
Well-fed. Well-favoured, Well-fed. Well-fenced . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV). Well-favoured, Well-fed. Well-fenced . Reference Bible
/w/well-fed.htm - 6k

Favoured (8 Occurrences)
... Daniel 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but wellfavoured, and skilful in all
wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ...
/f/favoured.htm - 8k

Fornications (14 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the multitude of the fornications of the well-favoured harlot,
mistress of sorceries, that selleth nations through her fornications, and ...
/f/fornications.htm - 10k

Selleth (17 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot,
the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and ...
/s/selleth.htm - 11k

Sorceries (11 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:4 Because of the multitude of the fornications of the well-favoured harlot,
mistress of sorceries, that selleth nations through her fornications, and ...
/s/sorceries.htm - 9k

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