from חָפֵץ; pleased with; delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish.
Transliteration:châphêts
Pronunciation:khaw-fates'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma חָפֵץ (châphêts, `{{H2655}}`) primarily conveys the sense of having a strong inclination, pleasure, delight, or desire towards something or someone. It is not merely a passive feeling but often implies an active choice or volitional disposition. Its semantic range extends from simple "pleasure" or "liking" to a profound "delight," "desire," "favor," or even "will" and "purpose." When applied to a subject, it signifies that the subject finds satisfaction, contentment, or a positive disposition in the object. It stands in contrast to indifference, aversion, or hatred, pointing always to a positive, often intentional, orientation of the heart or mind.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb חָפֵץ (châphêts) appears frequently in the Old Testament, revealing significant insights into both divine and human disposition:
* **Divine Subject:** When God is the subject, חָפֵץ illuminates His character and will.
* God's delight in righteousness and justice: [[Psalm 11:7]] states, "For the Lord is righteous, He loves (châphêts) righteousness." Similarly, [[Psalm 37:23]] notes that the Lord "delights" (châphêts) in the way of a man whose steps are established by Him. [[Isaiah 42:21]] declares, "The Lord was pleased (châphêts) for His righteousness' sake to magnify the law and make it glorious."
* God's preference for obedience over ritual: In [[1 Samuel 15:22]], Samuel famously asks, "Has the Lord as great delight (châphêts) in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" This highlights God's desire for a heart of obedience. [[Psalm 40:6]] echoes this sentiment: "Sacrifice and offering You have not desired (châphêts)."
* God's delight in mercy and not in the death of the wicked: [[Micah 7:18]] states that God "delights" (châphêts) in steadfast love. Most poignantly, [[Ezekiel 18:23]] and [[Ezekiel 33:11]] declare, "Do I have any pleasure (châphêts) in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, rather than that he should turn from his way and live?" This reveals God's redemptive heart.
* God's sovereign will and purpose: [[Isaiah 53:10]] describes the suffering of the Servant: "Yet it was the will (châphêts) of the Lord to crush him." Here, חָפֵץ signifies God's deliberate, sovereign purpose in the atoning work of the Messiah.
* **Human Subject:** When humans are the subject, חָפֵץ describes their desires, choices, and affections.
* Desire for wisdom and understanding: [[Proverbs 18:2]] states, "A fool takes no pleasure (châphêts) in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." This contrasts with the wise who delight in knowledge.
* Delight in God's law: [[Psalm 1:2]] describes the blessed man as one "whose delight (chephets, a related noun) is in the law of the Lord." This points to a spiritual affinity for God's instruction.
* Personal preference and choice: In the context of levirate marriage, [[Deuteronomy 25:7-8]] uses חָפֵץ to describe a man's "unwillingness" or "disinclination" to fulfill his duty. [[Genesis 34:19]] notes that Shechem "delighted" (châphêts) in Dinah, indicating a strong personal desire.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of חָפֵץ (châphêts) resonates with several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **Synonyms/Near Synonyms:**
* `{{H7521}}` (רָצָה - ratsah): "to be pleased with," "to accept," "to find favor." While similar, ratsah often focuses on the *acceptance* or *favor* granted, whereas châphêts emphasizes the *internal disposition* of pleasure or desire.
* `{{H157}}` (אָהַב - 'ahav): "to love." châphêts can be an expression or component of love, particularly in a volitional sense. Love often stems from delight.
* `{{H2836}}` (חָשַׁק - chashaq): "to cling to," "to be attached to," "to desire strongly." This term often implies a more intense, sometimes passionate, attachment.
* `{{H5315}}` (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh): "soul," often the seat of desires and affections. While nephesh is the faculty, châphêts describes the *action* or *inclination* of that faculty.
* **Antonyms/Contrasting Concepts:** Indifference, aversion, hatred (e.g., `{{H8130}}` - sane' - "to hate"), reluctance, and disinterest stand in direct opposition to the positive and active nature of châphêts.
* **Key Concepts:** Divine sovereignty, human will, righteousness, obedience, love, favor, and pleasure are all intertwined with the semantic range of châphêts.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of חָפֵץ (châphêts) is profound, particularly in its application to God. It reveals a God who is not distant or apathetic, but one with active desires, preferences, and a moral will.
* **God's Moral Character:** God's "delight" is consistently tied to His holy and righteous nature. He delights in justice, righteousness, and mercy, demonstrating that His will is inherently good and aligned with His character. This provides a stable foundation for understanding His actions and commands.
* **The Nature of True Worship:** When applied to humanity, châphêts underscores that true worship and obedience are not merely external acts but stem from an internal delight in God's ways and His law. It calls for a heart that truly desires God and His will, rather than simply fulfilling religious duties.
* **God's Redemptive Purpose:** The declarations in Ezekiel that God takes no "pleasure" in the death of the wicked, but rather in their repentance, are foundational to understanding His initiative in salvation. Furthermore, the divine "will" or "pleasure" in crushing the Suffering Servant in [[Isaiah 53:10]] highlights God's sovereign and benevolent purpose in the atoning work of Christ, demonstrating that salvation is fully according to His deliberate design.
* **Ethical Implications:** The word encourages believers to cultivate desires that align with God's own desires—to delight in righteousness, wisdom, and His commandments, rather than in evil or fleeting pleasures.
### Summary
The Hebrew word חָפֵץ (châphêts, `{{H2655}}`) signifies a strong, active inclination, pleasure, delight, or desire. It describes a positive, often volitional, disposition of the heart or mind. When God is the subject, châphêts profoundly reveals His moral character, demonstrating His delight in righteousness, justice, and mercy, and His sovereign will in redemptive history, including the atoning work of the Messiah. When applied to humanity, it emphasizes the importance of an internal delight in God's law and ways, contrasting with mere external obedience. Ultimately, châphêts speaks to the deep, purposeful affections that drive both divine action and true human devotion.
TRV