'Best' in the Bible

Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were in the house, and had her younger son Jacob wear them.

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and take them down to the man as a gift—some balsam and some honey, aromatic gum and resin, pistachios and almonds.

Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.’

Do not be concerned about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

He sent his father the following: 10 donkeys carrying the best products of Egypt and 10 female donkeys carrying grain, food, and provisions for his father on the journey.

the land of Egypt is open before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They can live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

he took 600 of the best chariots and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in each one.

“When a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed in, and then allows his animals to go and graze in someone else’s field, he must repay with the best of his own field or vineyard.

“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God.“You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

“Bring the best firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God.“You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

I am giving you all the best of the fresh olive oil, new wine, and grain, which the Israelites give to the Lord as their firstfruits.

You must present the entire offering due the Lord from all your gifts. The best part of the tenth is to be consecrated.

“Tell them further: Once you have presented the best part of the tenth, and it is credited to you Levites as the produce of the threshing floor or the winepress,

You will not incur guilt because of it once you have presented the best part of it, but you must not defile the Israelites’ holy offerings, so that you will not die.”

with the best products of the ancient mountainsand the bounty of the eternal hills;

He chose the best part for himself,because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him.He came with the leaders of the people;he carried out the Lord’s justiceand His ordinances for Israel.

Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.

Why, then, do all of you despise My sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than Me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of My people Israel.’

He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.

He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and use them for his work.

Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were.

“I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.

Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the Angel of God, so do whatever you think best.

‘Your silver and your gold are mine! And your best wives and children are mine as well!’”

So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God: gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting, antimony, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble.

When the word spread, the Israelites gave liberally of the best of the grain, new wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance, a tenth of everything.

You may do whatever seems best to you and your brothers with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word.

The young woman pleased him and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem’s best quarters.

Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, yet living in isolation. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

All of my best friends despise me,and those I love have turned against me.

God’s anger flared up against them,and He killed some of their best men.He struck down Israel’s choice young men.

But He would feed Israel with the best wheat.“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

Our lives last seventy yearsor, if we are strong, eighty years.Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.

nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,with all the trees of frankincense,myrrh and aloes,with all the best spices.

Your best valleys were full of chariots,and horsemen were positioned at the gates.

I planted you, a choice vinefrom the very best seed.How then could you turn intoa degenerate, foreign vine?

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They exchanged gold, the best of all spices, and all kinds of precious stones for your merchandise.

I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol to be with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, all the well-watered trees, the choice and best of Lebanon, were comforted in the underworld.

The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest so that a blessing may rest on your homes.

The best of them is like a brier;the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.The day of your watchmen,the day of your punishment, is coming;at this time their panic is here.

He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host.

“But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.