Genesis 6:8
Context6:8 But 1 Noah found favor 2 in the sight of 3 the Lord.
Genesis 18:3
Context18:3 He said, “My lord, 4 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 5
Genesis 43:14
Context43:14 May the sovereign God 6 grant you mercy before the man so that he may release 7 your other brother 8 and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.” 9
1 tn The disjunctive clause (conjunction + subject + verb) is contrastive here: God condemns the human race, but he is pleased with Noah.
2 tn The Hebrew expression “find favor [in the eyes of]” is an idiom meaning “to be an object of another’s favorable disposition or action,” “to be a recipient of another’s favor, kindness, mercy.” The favor/kindness is often earned, coming in response to an action or condition (see Gen 32:5; 39:4; Deut 24:1; 1 Sam 25:8; Prov 3:4; Ruth 2:10). This is the case in Gen 6:8, where v. 9 gives the basis (Noah’s righteous character) for the divine favor.
3 tn Heb “in the eyes of,” an anthropomorphic expression for God’s opinion or decision. The
4 tc The MT has the form אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Master”) which is reserved for God. This may reflect later scribal activity. The scribes, knowing it was the
5 tn Heb “do not pass by from upon your servant.”
6 tn Heb “El Shaddai.” See the extended note on the phrase “sovereign God” in Gen 17:1.
7 tn Heb “release to you.” After the jussive this perfect verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) probably indicates logical consequence, as well as temporal sequence.
8 sn Several Jewish commentators suggest that the expression your other brother refers to Joseph. This would mean that Jacob prophesied unwittingly. However, it is much more likely that Simeon is the referent of the phrase “your other brother” (see Gen 42:24).
9 tn Heb “if I am bereaved I am bereaved.” With this fatalistic sounding statement Jacob resolves himself to the possibility of losing both Benjamin and Simeon.