Blessing vs. Favor — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 4, 2024
A blessing is a divine or spiritual gift, while favor refers to approval or preference granted by someone, often implying support or advantage.
Difference Between Blessing and Favor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blessings are often associated with divine or spiritual gifts, bestowals for well-being and prosperity, coming from a higher power or deity. Whereas favor is more about a special kindness, approval, or support granted by someone, which can be either divine or from individuals, and does not necessarily imply a spiritual context.
Blessings are typically invoked or received, suggesting a passive receipt of good will or divine grace. They are seen as a form of grace that enhances one's life without one's explicit request. On the other hand, favor can be sought or earned through actions, implying an active pursuit of approval or preference from others, whether in a divine context or in interpersonal relationships.
The concept of a blessing encompasses a broad range of aspects including health, wealth, happiness, and success, and it often carries a connotation of being unconditional and universal. Favor, however, tends to be more specific and conditional, based on the preferences or judgments of the giver, and can be influenced by the actions or characteristics of the receiver.
In religious or spiritual contexts, blessings are often seen as sacred and are invoked through prayer, rituals, or ceremonies, signifying a connection with the divine. Favors, while they can also be sought through prayer or spiritual practice, are more commonly associated with temporal advantages or assistance provided by others, highlighting a transactional or relational aspect.
While blessings are generally welcomed and seen as inherently positive, the pursuit of favor, especially among humans, can sometimes lead to competition, jealousy, or conflict, as individuals seek to gain an advantage or approval from someone in a position of power or influence.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Divine or spiritual gift
Approval or preference granted by someone
Source
Higher power or deity
Divine or from individuals
Reception
Invoked or received passively
Sought or earned actively
Scope
Broad (health, wealth, happiness)
Specific and conditional
Context
Often religious or spiritual
Can be divine or interpersonal
Connotation
Unconditional and universal
Conditional, based on giver's preference
Rituals
Invoked through prayer, rituals
Sought through prayer, actions, or relationships
Social Dynamics
Generally positive, welcoming
Can lead to competition or conflict among humans
Compare with Definitions
Blessing
Often viewed as coming from a higher power.
Many seek blessings through prayer or meditation.
Favor
Can be divine or from individuals, based on preference.
The king showed favor to his most loyal subjects.
Blessing
A divine or spiritual gift bestowed for well-being and prosperity.
The family felt the new baby was a true blessing.
Favor
Actively sought or earned.
Gaining favor requires effort and sometimes strategic thinking.
Blessing
Typically received without explicit request.
The community's support was considered an unexpected blessing.
Favor
Can lead to competition or jealousy.
Favoritism in the workplace often leads to tension among colleagues.
Blessing
Impacts a broad range of life aspects.
They credited their good fortune to the blessings they had received.
Favor
Approval or support granted by someone, often implying an advantage.
He gained favor with his superiors through hard work.
Blessing
Seen as universally positive.
Blessings are often sought during religious ceremonies.
Favor
Tends to be specific and based on conditions.
Favor from influential people can open doors.
Blessing
In religion, a blessing (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, or divine will.
Favor
A gracious, friendly, or obliging act that is freely granted
Do someone a favor.
Blessing
The act of one that blesses.
Favor
Friendly or favorable regard; approval or support
Won the favor of the monarch.
Looked with favor on the plan.
Blessing
A short prayer said before or after a meal; grace.
Favor
A state of being held in such regard
A style currently in favor.
Blessing
Something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon.
Favor
Unfair partiality; favoritism
The referees were warned not to show favor to either team.
Blessing
Approbation; approval
This plan has my blessing.
Favor
A privilege or concession
Had the favor of talking with her for an hour.
Blessing
Some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward.
Favor
Favors Permission to engage in sexual activity, especially when granted by a woman to a male partner.
Blessing
A pronouncement invoking divine aid.
Favor
Something given as a token of love, affection, or remembrance.
Blessing
Good fortune.
Favor
A small decorative gift given to each guest at a party.
Blessing
(paganism) A modern pagan ceremony.
Favor
Advantage; benefit
Sailed under favor of cloudless skies.
Blessing
The act of declaring or bestowing favor; approval.
We will not proceed without the executive director's blessing.
Favor
Behalf; interest
An error in our favor.
Blessing
Something someone is glad of.
After two weeks of sun, last night's rainfall was a blessing.
Favor
(Obsolete) A communication, especially a letter.
Blessing
A prayer before a meal; grace.
Favor
Aspect or appearance.
Blessing
A group of unicorns.
Favor
Countenance; face.
Blessing
Present participle of bless
Favor
(Obsolete) A facial feature.
Blessing
The act of one who blesses.
Favor
To perform a kindness or service for; oblige.
Blessing
A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring divine favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish of happiness pronounces.
This is the blessing, where with Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel.
Favor
To have a liking for; be partial to; prefer
Favored coffee over tea at breakfast.
Favored the suitor with the quick wit.
Blessing
A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and welfare; a beneficent gift.
Nature's full blessings would be well dispensed.
Favor
To approve, advocate, or support
Economists who favor free trade.
Blessing
A gift.
Favor
To show partiality or unfair preference to
Thought the law favored men over women.
Blessing
Grateful praise or worship.
Favor
To believe to be most likely to succeed
The Tigers are favored to win the championship.
Blessing
The formal act of giving approval;
He gave the project his blessing
His decision merited the approval of any sensible person
Favor
To be advantageous to; make more likely to be successful
Darkness favored their escape. The climate favors conifers.
Blessing
A desirable state;
Enjoy the blessings of peace
A spanking breeze is a boon to sailors
Favor
To speed up or otherwise increase the success of (a chemical process or pathway)
Increasing the pressure favors the reaction.
Blessing
A short prayer of thanks before a meal
Favor
To treat with care; be gentle with
Favored my wounded leg.
Blessing
A ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
Favor
Chiefly Southern US To resemble in appearance
She favors her father.
Blessing
The act of praying for divine protection
Favor
To resemble another in appearance
She and her father favor.
Favor
A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
He did me a favor when he took the time to drive me home.
Favor
Goodwill; benevolent regard.
She enjoyed the queen's favor.
To fall out of favor
Favor
A small gift; a party favor.
At the holiday dinner, the hosts had set a favor by each place setting.
A marriage favour is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.
Favor
Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
Favor
The object of regard; person or thing favoured.
Favor
(obsolete) Appearance; look; countenance; face.
Favor
(legal) Partiality; bias
Favor
(archaic) A letter, a written communication.
Favor
(obsolete) Anything worn publicly as a pledge of a woman's favor.
Favor
(obsolete) A ribbon or similar small item that is worn as an adornment, especially in celebration of an event.
Favor
To look upon fondly; to prefer.
Favor
To use more often.
Favor
To encourage, conduce to
Favor
To do a favor [noun sense 1] for; to show beneficence toward.
Would you favor us with a poetry reading?
Favor
To treat with care.
Favoring your sore leg will only injure the other one.
Favor
To resemble; especially, to look like (another person).
Favor
Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will.
Hath crawled into the favor of the king.
Favor
The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending.
But found no favor in his lady's eyes.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Favor
A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from justice or remuneration.
Beg one favor at thy gracious hand.
Favor
Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
I could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence.
Favor
The object of regard; person or thing favored.
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man,His chief delight and favor.
Favor
A gift or present; something bestowed as an evidence of good will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.
Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap.
Favor
Appearance; look; countenance; face.
This boy is fair, of female favor.
Favor
Partiality; bias.
Favor
A letter or epistle; - so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received.
Favor
Love locks.
But, with your favor, I will treat it here.
Favor
To regard with kindness; to support; to aid, or to have the disposition to aid, or to wish success to; to be propitious to; to treat with consideration or tenderness; to show partiality or unfair bias towards.
O happy youth! and favored of the skies.
He that favoreth Joab, . . . let him go after Joab.
[The painter] has favored her squint admirably.
Favor
To afford advantages for success to; to facilitate; as, a weak place favored the entrance of the enemy.
Favor
To resemble in features; to have the aspect or looks of; as, the child favors his father.
The porter owned that the gentleman favored his master.
Favor
An act of gracious kindness
Favor
An advantage to the benefit of someone or something;
The outcome was in his favor
Favor
An inclination to approve;
That style is in favor this season
Favor
A feeling of favorable regard
Favor
Souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a party
Favor
Promote over another;
He favors his second daughter
Favor
Consider as the favorite;
The local team was favored
Favor
Treat gently or carefully
Favor
Bestow a privilege upon
Common Curiosities
What is a blessing?
A blessing is a divine or spiritual gift aimed at promoting well-being and prosperity.
What does favor mean?
Favor refers to approval, support, or preference granted by someone, often providing an advantage.
What is the difference between divine favor and human favor?
Divine favor is based on the grace or will of a deity, often unconditional, while human favor is based on individual preferences and can be conditional.
How are blessings received?
Blessings are often received passively, through prayer, faith, or divine grace.
Can one person give a blessing to another?
Yes, individuals can express wishes of good fortune or well-being to others, which are considered blessings.
Can favor be considered a form of blessing?
Favor can be seen as a blessing when it is granted without selfish motives, especially in a divine context.
How does one gain favor?
Favor is typically earned or sought after through actions, relationships, or demonstrating qualities that align with the preferences of the one granting favor.
Is seeking favor unethical?
Seeking favor is not inherently unethical, but the means by which one seeks it and the intentions behind it can raise ethical questions.
How do cultural perceptions of blessings and favor differ?
Cultural perceptions vary widely, with some cultures placing more emphasis on the spiritual aspects of blessings and others viewing favor more in terms of social or political advantage.
Can blessings have negative consequences?
Generally, blessings are seen as positive, though the interpretation of what is a blessing may vary among individuals.
Do blessings always come from a deity?
While commonly associated with a deity or the divine, blessings can also be understood in a secular context as any good fortune or positive aspect of life.
How can blessings impact a community?
Blessings can bring a sense of unity, well-being, and positive outlook to a community, often strengthening bonds among its members.
Why might someone prefer blessings over favor?
Individuals might prefer blessings for their unconditional and universally positive nature, as opposed to the often conditional and specific nature of favor.
Can the pursuit of favor lead to personal growth?
Yes, the pursuit of favor, when approached ethically, can lead to personal development and growth, as individuals strive to improve themselves or contribute positively to their relationships or communities.
Is it possible to lose favor?
Yes, favor, especially human favor, can be lost if the actions or characteristics that earned it change or if relationships shift.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
