Most everyone knows what the word “grace” means. One “says” it. One “receives it”. One “is forgiven by it”. Yet, this simple concept might be the most abused of any Biblical terminology. What is it with grace that causes such consternation?
Grace Vs Mercy
A big reason for confusion is that the word “grace” has been conflated with the word “mercy”. There is an instant use of the word grace that might help cast some light on the constituent differences. In movies set around time periods concerning Kings or Queens, it is not uncommon to hear someone of rank referred to as “His Graceship” or “Her Grace”. Since this title deals directly with honor, we understand it to be conferring some manner of essential quality which other people lacking the title do not have. Let us pause here and plug in Merriam Webster’s definition of the word “grace” and see if it clarifies or makes muddier the waters:
1 a : unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance 2 a : approval, favor b archaic : mercy, pardon c : a special favor : privilege d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e : a temporary exemption : reprieve 3 a : a charming or attractive trait or characteristic Among disagreeable qualities he possessed the saving grace of humor. b : a pleasing appearance or effect : charm c : ease and suppleness (see supple entry 1 sense 2b) of movement or bearing danced with such grace 4 —used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop 5 : a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks 6 Graces plural : three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty 7 : a musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura 8 a : sense of propriety or right b : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful accepted his advice with grace
grace verb graced; gracing transitive verb 1 : to confer dignity or honor on The king graced him with the rank of a knight. 2 : adorn, embellish
Whew. That’s a lot of baggage, and no, I do not believe it made the concept any clearer and in fact introduced several definitions that make the interpretation more difficult yet. Maybe a better tactic is to look at the Hebrew word that is tied to the meaning of the word grace:
The Hebrew word translated as grace is חן (hhen, Strong’s #2580) and is a two-letter parent root. https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-words/meaning-of-grace-from-a-hebrew-perspective.htm
Digging around in various concordances, we find that this is, essentially, agreed upon as the word that most often has the meaning of “grace”. However, our above source provides us a very exhaustive view relevant to the subject:
From חן (hhen) comes the verbal root חנה (Hh.N.H, Strong’s #2583), spelled exactly the same except with the addition of the letter ה (h) at the end. The following verse provides a good example of the meaning of this verb.
And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. (KJV, Genesis 26:17)
This verb means “to pitch a tent” or “to camp.” The noun derived from this verb is מחנה (mahhaneh, Strong’s # 4264).
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. (KJV, Exodus 14:20)
When we think of a camp, we think of tents scattered about in a general area, but the camps of the Ancient Hebrews were a little different as the picture below demonstrates.
A second verbal root derived from the parent root חן (hhen) is חנן (Hh.N.N, Strong’s #2603), spelled exactly the same except with the addition of the letter ן (n) at the end. This verb is often translated as “to be gracious” or “have mercy,” however these are abstract terms and do not help us understand the meaning of this verb from a Hebraic perspective, which always relates words to something concrete. One of the best tools to use to find the more concrete meaning of a word is to look at how that word is paralleled with other words in poetical passages. In the following verses the translation of the verb חנן (Hh.N.N) will be underlined and the word that it is paralleled with will be in bold.
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. (KJV, Psalm 6:2)
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. (KJV, Psalm 30:10)
But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. (KJV, Psalm 41:10)
Be mercifulunto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (KJV, Psalm 57:1) O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. (KJV, Psalm 86:16)
Through this process we find that this Hebrew verb is paralleled with such ideas as healing, help, being lifted up, finding refuge, strength and salvation (literally rescue). From a concrete Hebraic perspective, חנן (Hh.N.N) means all of this, which we can sum up with “providing protection.” Where does one run to for protection? The camp, and now we see how חנה (Hh.N.H), the camp, and חנן (Hh.N.N), protection, are related. Now we need to see how these words are related to the parent root חן (hhen).
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it… (KJV, Proverbs 17:8)
In this verse, the Hebrew word חן (hhen) is translated as “precious,” something of beauty and value.
A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. (KJV, Proverbs 11:16)
In this verse the “grace,” or “beauty,” of the woman is contrasted with the strength of a man.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (KJV, Proverbs 31:30
Again, this Hebrew word is being paralleled with “beauty.” This “beauty” is something that is precious and graceful, which is exactly how the Hebrews would have seen the “camp of protection,” a graceful and precious place.”
Our above source then goes on to say that grace means these above indicated things as used in the English. However, it is not quite the same. While someone saying, “I was saved by the protection of God” makes passable sense, someone saying, “I received protection and was saved,” does not ring quite the same way. It is fundamentally true, it is veritably the case. The problem, however, is that there is something more than “protection” implied. The soul itself is preserved and redeemed. Protection we might confuse with something that say, a house might provide. Beauty gets us closer, since we know in Hebrew one word for beauty is Tiferet. In English then, the phrase would be more akin to “resplendent protection which secures my soul” which ultimately would go so far as to be the literal piece of YHVH present in the Tabernacle. He “camped” with Israel. In other words, the language reflected a future tenancy–that YHVH would actually dwell with Israel eventually in His own House.
Grace then does not convey these issues as used in Christianity with the nuance it deserves. Unfortunately, the entire concept goes right off the rails in the sense that the encampment is enclosed in a wall. It has a definite space which belongs to it, and everything else is not it.
Grace often seems to function as a kind of boundary-less license to continue to sin and find one’s self continually OUTSIDE the camp! Why? Well, because a person does not “deserve grace” and because they are “a sinner” this is taken to be a perpetual state of existence. “Go forth and sin no more,” would appear to be a phrase that no one thinks is possible despite the person who uttered it. Therefore, one is continually given forgiveness and struggles along. Yet, the idea of “grace” has no real meaning in modern English to imply this other than perhaps the word “grace period” which seems to be closer to a Hebrew meaning. In other words, a “grace period” means one has been forgiven for something but that there is still something due and something expected. It is not a mercy poured-out without conditions which are fundamentally described by the Torah and New Testament. Hence, “While His Mercy May Endure Forever”, it is possible to do something that eventually trips past one’s “grace period” such that they find themselves outside the camp and are unable to meet the conditions required for YHVH to live next to them, or even in the same neighborhood. Such a person would then not have protection though they may well assert they are forgiven by grace. If anything, a person might be given “undeserved mercy” such that they can come back to the camp. However, upon their return, they better ensure that that “undeserved mercy” is remembered and they should “live better”. A person who asserts they have the gift of grace but whose entire existence is outside the camp actually has no share in the Hebrew concept which grace is supposed to indicate. In other words a person has effectively “doctrined” themselves right out of the entire Hebraic conception of what they think they have received.
Therefore, I suggest to English speakers, of which I am one, that we conceptualize the word “grace” as the Hebrew word “henn” and keep in mind that we are all chickens in the kingdom, and we would be better served to make sure we stay in our coops since there are lots of creatures which find us tasty.
