In addition to chen, the Old Testament has other words to denote grace in the sense of ‘undeserved love’, notably mercy (רָחַמ racham), and steadfast love/covenant faithfulness (חֶסֶד chesed). The psalmists often pray to God for such an attitude towards them (Psalm 4:1 6:2 25:16, etc.).

The corresponding Hebrew verb חננ chanan carries the meaning ‘to turn to someone with love and help them’. They had a close relationship with God and received an important mission from Him. The Bible writers also use this expression to indicate that certain people receive God’s special favor.Įxamples of these people include Noah (Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 33:12-19) and Gideon (Judges 6:17). Usually this expression is employed for individuals who seek or receive favor from someone else, such as Jacob from Esau (Genesis 32:5), Joseph from Potiphar (Genesis 39:3-4), or Ruth from Boaz (Ruth 2:2). Chen occurs some seventy times in the Old Testament, 43 of them in the expression ‘to find grace in the eyes of ….’. Chen means not only ‘mercy’, but also ‘favor’, ‘affection’, ‘beauty’, just as the English word ‘gracious’ is derived from grace. The Hebrew word that is usually translated ‘grace’ is חֵן chen. We will discover that it has a deeper and more extensive meaning than is sometimes assumed. But what is grace actually? What is the origin of this word and what does it mean? In this article, we will examine how the Bible uses the term ‘grace’. In this sense, grace is almost synonymous with the Gospel, God’s gift of undeserved salvation through Jesus Christ. Christians believe that God is gracious, that grace is an essential part of God’s character, and that our salvation is by grace. ‘Grace’ is at the core of the Christian faith.

What is the meaning of grace