Genesis 6:8

6:8 But ¹  Noah found favor ²  in the sight of ³  the Lord.

Genesis 31:35

31:35 Rachel ⁴  said to her father, “Don’t be angry, ⁵  my lord. I cannot stand up ⁶  in your presence because I am having my period.” ⁷  So he searched thoroughly, ⁸  but did not find the idols.

[6:8]  ¹ tn The disjunctive clause (conjunction + subject + verb) is contrastive here: God condemns the human race, but he is pleased with Noah.

[6:8]  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.

[6:8]  ³ tn Heb “in the eyes of,” an anthropomorphic expression for God’s opinion or decision. The Lord saw that the whole human race was corrupt, but he looked in favor on Noah.

[31:35]  ⁴ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[31:35]  ⁵ tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.

[31:35]  ⁶ tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”

[31:35]  ⁷ tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.

[31:35]  ⁸ tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.