And the teacher is asking you to think of God’s wisdom like that necklace.

Wearing a necklace brings delight to those who wear it and to those who see it worn. In Proverbs 3:22, God’s wisdom is compared to a necklace and is called “an ornament of khen,” usually translated as “an ornament of grace.” Think about it. Anything that we encounter that brings us delight could be called khen. It might elicit a favorable response because it is elegant or charming, or it might be because it is beautiful. (To pronounce this word, say “hen” but clear your throat a little at the beginning.) In Hebrew, khen is anything that induces a favorable response or something we find ourselves drawn to. Let’s start to unpack this by looking at the Hebrew word for “grace,” khen (חֵן). So when God calls himself gracious, what he means is that he sees you as a treasure, he delights in you, regardless of your status or behavior. These two meanings are also connected in Hebrew thought. These definitions of “grace” and “gracious” can be connected by the idea that to be gracious is to extend kindness or show delight towards someone who may not be deserving of that treatment. We hear this word used to describe someone’s surprising and kind attitude towards another person or in a difficult situation-“he was so gracious with that rude stranger,” or “she exudes grace under pressure.” Someone who is gracious is an enjoyable person to be around because they bring light and life to others.Īnother common English meaning of gracious is to be forgiving, merciful, and compassionate-“it was gracious of her to just give you a warning,” or “the judge’s lenient verdict was gracious.” In contemporary English, to be gracious typically means you are kind, courteous, and even delightful. And more specifically, what it means for the God of the universe to be gracious. But taking time to think through the different meanings of this word and how it’s used throughout the Bible will help us better understand what it means for a person to be gracious.

This is a word that’s probably pretty familiar to you.

In Exodus 34:6, God describes himself as gracious.

What does it mean to give someone grace