Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Favoritism?

15 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Favoritism in the Bible

Discover 9 powerful Bible verses about favoritism. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential miscellaneous topic.

15
Total Verses
8
Old Testament
7
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Favoritism

  1. 1
    Genesis 27:6
    And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
    KJV
  2. 2
    Genesis 29:30
    And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Genesis 29:34
    And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. Levi: that is, Joined
    KJV
  4. 4
    Genesis 37:3
    Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. colours: or, pieces
    KJV
  5. 5
    Genesis 37:4
    And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Genesis 43:34
    And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. were: Heb. drank largely
    KJV
  7. 7
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
    KJV
  8. 8
    Deuteronomy 21:15
    If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
    KJV
  9. 9
    Acts 10:34
    Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
    KJV
  10. 10
    Romans 2:11
    For there is no respect of persons with God.
    KJV

Subtopics of Favoritism

INSTANCES OF
Jacob, for Rachel
Elkanah, for Hannah
Rebekah, for Jacob
Jacob, for Joseph
Joseph, for Benjamin
Forbidden in parents

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Favoritism? (8 Verses)

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. Levi: that is, Joined
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. colours: or, pieces
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. were: Heb. drank largely
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Favoritism? (7 Verses)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
For there is no respect of persons with God.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. forbearing: or, moderating your: some read, both your and their Master
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? of the: or, of that
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Favoritism

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about favoritism. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about favoritism and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about favoritism is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on favoritism needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about favoritism with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about favoritism, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Favoritism?

You have studied 15 verses about favoritism. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about favoritism?
Discover 9 powerful Bible verses about favoritism. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential miscellaneous topic. The Bible contains 15 key verses about favoritism spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about favoritism are there?
There are 15 key Bible verses about favoritism compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about favoritism?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about favoritism is Genesis 27:6 — "And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,"
Where in the Bible does it talk about favoritism?
Favoritism is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 15 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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