Topic
Gracious
7 passages cited, from 1 classic reference work.
These works date from 1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Numbers 6:25ISBE
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
- 2 Kings 13:23ISBE
And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
- Psalms 145:8ISBE
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
- Proverbs 11:16ISBE
A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12ISBE
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- Luke 4:22ISBE
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
- 1 Peter 2:3ISBE
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
In the reference works
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 7 references
gra'-shus (chanan; charis): In general, the word means "to favor," "to show kindness" to an inferior and "to be compassionate." All Old Testament passages are derived from the same root, and yet there are two evident shades of meaning derived from it. (1) As above, "favorable" or, causative, "to cause to be gracious," as "Yahweh make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee" (Nu 6:25); "And the Lord was gracious unto them" (2Ki 13:23 the King James Version); "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion" (Ps 145:8 the King James Version). (2) In a modified sense, "graceful," "winsome" or "attractive," as applied particularly to persons and things. Used thus 3 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. "A gracious woman retaineth honor" (Pr 11:16 the King James Version; compare Ec 10:12; Lu 4:22).
The word is used once in the New Testament from root of Greek word chrestos, meaning "useful" as a benefit: "if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1Pe 2:3).
In the main, however, the adjective is applied in the Old Testament to Yahweh, as indicative of His favor and mercy, His long-suffering and general inclination of favor and kindness.
Walter G. Clippinger
Texts: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.