When considering the concept of being “highly favored,” we can find rich references throughout the Bible, especially when it comes to God’s grace and kindness toward individuals. The idea of favor is intricately linked to God’s blessings, mercy, and love for us.
One of the most vivid examples of someone being “highly favored” is Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary by saying, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” This greeting indicates that Mary was chosen for a unique and vital role within God’s plan due to her faith and character.
Being highly favored often means being chosen for a purpose, and it carries with it both blessings and responsibilities. Moses, for example, found favor in God’s eyes (Exodus 33:17) and was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Similarly, Joseph found favor in the eyes of God and was blessed with the ability to interpret dreams, ultimately saving Egypt and his own family from famine (Genesis 39-41). These stories highlight that God’s favor is not just about receiving blessings but being equipped for His purpose and His greater plan.
It’s also essential for us to recognize that while certain individuals were singled out as highly favored, God’s favor is not limited. In Psalms 5:12, it is stated, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” This suggests that God’s favor is accessible to all who are righteous and follow His path.
Further, in the New Testament, we see through Jesus Christ that becoming highly favored is a matter of faith and grace. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.” This indicates that in the new covenant through Christ, all believers are highly favored because we are recipients of God’s ultimate grace.
Understanding God’s favor helps us appreciate the relationship we have with Him. It encourages us to live righteously, knowing that His favor can guide us and protect us in our daily lives. While being highly favored often brings exceptional roles and responsibilities, it is also a reminder of God’s ongoing presence and blessings in our lives.
Also Read: 40 Bible Verses About a Servants Heart
Luke 1:28 – Mary is Highly Favored by God
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Genesis 6:8 – Noah Finds Favor with God
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Proverbs 3:4 – Find Favor and Good Success
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Exodus 33:12 – Moses is Highly Favored by God
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’”
Ruth 2:10 – Ruth Finds Favor with Boaz
Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
Acts 7:46-50 – David Finds Favor with God
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “’Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’
Esther 2:15 – Esther Receives Favor from the King
When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
Psalms 5:12 – The Righteous are Blessed with Favor
For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Genesis 39:21 – Joseph Finds Favor in Prison
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
1 Samuel 2:26 – Samuel Finds Favor with God
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
Psalms 84:11 – The Lord Bestows Favor and Honor
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Luke 2:52 – Jesus Grows in Favor
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Genesis 18:3 – Abraham Finds Favor with God
and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.”
Proverbs 11:27 – The Upright Gain God’s Favor
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
1 Samuel 16:22 – David Finds Favor with Saul
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 – God’s Compassion and Favor are Renewed Daily
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Proverbs 12:2 – The Lord Favors the Righteous
A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns.
Zechariah 4:7 – The Favor of God Enables Accomplishment
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
Proverbs 13:15 – The Way of the Faithful is Favored
Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
Acts 2:47 – The Early Church Found Favor
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Proverbs 21:21 – The Righteous Pursue Favor and Life
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
1 Samuel 2:26 – Samuel Grows in Favor with God and Man
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
Psalms 30:5 – God’s Favor Lasts for a Lifetime
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Proverbs 22:11 – The Lord Loves Those Who Pursue Favor
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
Ezra 7:6 – Ezra Finds Favor with King Artaxerxes
this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
Luke 1:30 – Mary is Highly Favored and Blessed
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Proverbs 16:7 – God Gives Favor Even with Enemies
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
1 Corinthians 16:22 – The Lord Grants His Favored Ones Love and Grace
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
Ecclesiastes 9:11 – God’s Favor Can Lead to Success
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
Proverbs 8:35 – Those Who Find Wisdom Find Favor
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
Luke 1:42 – Elizabeth Filled with the Holy Spirit Finds Favor
and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
Proverbs 29:26 – The Righteous Seek God’s Favor
Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
Acts 25:3 – Paul Finds Favor with Festus
asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
Job 10:12 – God’s Favor Gives Life, Love, and Care
You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
Proverbs 8:35 – Wisdom Brings Favor and Keeps from Harm
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
John 1:14 – Jesus Comes Full of Grace and Truth
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Proverbs 19:6 – Many Seek the Favor of a Generous Man
Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
Romans 5:2 – By Faith, We Stand in God’s Amazing Grace
Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Deuteronomy 33:23 – God Bestows Favor on Asher
And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake and the south.”
James 4:6 – God Gives Grace to the Humble
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Psalms 37:23 – The Steps of the Righteous Are Ordered by God
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.
Isaiah 30:18 – God Waits to Show Favor and Compassion
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Hebrews 4:16 – We Find Grace and Mercy in Times of Need
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.