or נִיחֹחַ; from נוּחַ; properly, restful, i.e. pleasant; abstractly, delight; sweet (odour).
Transliteration:nîychôwach
Pronunciation:nee-kho'-akh
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word nîychôwach (`{{H5207}}`) is derived from the verbal root nuwach (`{{H5117}}`), which fundamentally means "to rest," "to settle," or "to be quiet." This etymological connection provides a profound insight into the core meaning of nîychôwach. It describes something that brings a sense of rest, satisfaction, or contentment. While often translated as "sweet savor" or "pleasing aroma," the underlying notion is of something agreeable, delightful, and ultimately, something that brings divine satisfaction or causes God to "rest" in His acceptance. In the biblical lexicon, it almost exclusively refers to the aroma of sacrifices and offerings that are acceptable and delightful to the LORD.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term nîychôwach appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, with a pronounced concentration in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers, where the laws of sacrifice are detailed. It is almost invariably used in conjunction with "reah" (`{{H7381}}`), meaning "smell" or "odor," forming the phrase "reah nîychôwach" (a pleasing aroma/odor). This phrase consistently describes the quality of an offering that is acceptable to God.
* **[[Genesis 8:21]]**: The first occurrence establishes the precedent. After the flood, Noah offers burnt offerings, and the LORD "smelled the pleasing aroma." This signifies divine acceptance and the establishment of a covenant with humanity, preventing another universal flood.
* **Exodus and Leviticus**: Throughout the instructions for the Tabernacle and the sacrificial system, nîychôwach is a recurring descriptor for various offerings:
* **Burnt Offerings (עֹלָה - olah)**: [[Exodus 29:18]], [[Leviticus 1:9]], [[Leviticus 1:13]], [[Leviticus 1:17]]. The complete consumption of the animal by fire symbolized total dedication and was inherently a "pleasing aroma."
* **Grain Offerings (מִנְחָה - minchah)**: [[Leviticus 2:2]], [[Leviticus 2:9]]. Even offerings of flour and oil, when presented correctly, were deemed acceptable.
* **Peace Offerings (זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים - zevach shlamim)**: [[Leviticus 3:5]], [[Leviticus 3:16]]. These offerings, symbolizing fellowship and reconciliation, also produced a pleasing aroma.
* **Sin and Guilt Offerings**: While less frequently explicitly described as "pleasing aroma" (as their primary function was atonement), the general principle of acceptability applied.
* **Numbers**: The term continues to appear in the context of communal and individual offerings, emphasizing the consistent requirement for offerings to be pleasing to God ([[Numbers 15:3]], [[Numbers 15:7]], [[Numbers 15:10]]).
* **[[Ezekiel 20:41]]**: In a prophetic context, God declares that when He gathers Israel from the nations, He will accept their offerings and they will become a "pleasing aroma" to Him. This points to a future restoration and renewed divine acceptance.
The consistent usage indicates that nîychôwach is not merely a literal sensory experience for God, but a theological statement about the divine approval and satisfaction with an offering made according to His will and with the right heart.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **nuwach (`{{H5117}}`):** The root verb, "to rest," "to settle," "to be quiet." This connection highlights that the "pleasing aroma" brings a sense of divine rest or satisfaction to God, implying the cessation of any divine displeasure or the fulfillment of His righteous demands.
* **reah (`{{H7381}}`):** "Smell," "odor," "scent." This noun is almost always modified by nîychôwach to specify the *quality* of the smell as being agreeable.
* **Sacrifice (e.g., zevach `{{H2077}}`, olah `{{H5930}}`, minchah `{{H4503}}`):** nîychôwach is intimately tied to the entire sacrificial system, describing the *effect* of these offerings on God.
* **Acceptance and Favor:** The concept is intrinsically linked to God's acceptance of the worshiper and their offering. It stands in contrast to offerings that are rejected or displeasing.
* **New Testament Parallel (euodia `{{G2177}}`):** The Septuagint frequently translates nîychôwach with the Greek word euodia, meaning "a sweet smell" or "fragrance." This concept is carried into the New Testament, notably in passages that spiritualize the Old Testament sacrificial system. [[Ephesians 5:2]] describes Christ's self-sacrifice as "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." [[Philippians 4:18]] uses euodia to describe the financial gift from the Philippians as "a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God," demonstrating that spiritual acts of worship and obedience are now the "pleasing aroma."
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of nîychôwach is profound and multifaceted:
1. **Divine Acceptance and Approval:** Foremost, nîychôwach signifies God's complete acceptance and approval of an offering. It indicates that the sacrifice has been presented according to His will and has effectively achieved its purpose, whether for atonement, thanksgiving, or fellowship. It is a sign that the worshiper stands in good standing before God concerning that act of worship.
2. **God's Satisfaction and Delight:** Rooted in nuwach ("to rest"), the term conveys that the offering brings a sense of divine satisfaction or contentment to God. It implies that His holiness has been honored, His justice appeased, or His desire for fellowship fulfilled. God "rests" in the offering, finding delight in the obedience and devotion of His people.
3. **Covenantal Obedience:** The repeated use of nîychôwach within the Mosaic Law underscores the importance of precise obedience to God's commands regarding worship. Only offerings made according to His stipulations could produce a "pleasing aroma," reinforcing the terms and conditions of the covenant relationship.
4. **Prophetic Hope and Restoration:** As seen in [[Ezekiel 20:41]], the promise of Israel's future offerings being a "pleasing aroma" speaks to a time of restoration and renewed covenant. It signifies God's enduring desire for reconciliation and genuine worship from His people, even after periods of judgment and exile.
5. **Christological Fulfillment:** The New Testament's application of euodia to Christ's sacrifice ([[Ephesians 5:2]]) reveals the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Christ's perfect, sinless self-offering on the cross is the supreme "pleasing aroma" to God, perfectly satisfying divine justice and providing complete and eternal atonement for sin. This one sacrifice perfectly accomplished what all the Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed, bringing God ultimate rest and delight.
6. **Spiritual Sacrifices of Believers:** Beyond Christ's work, the concept extends to believers' spiritual sacrifices. Acts of obedience, praise, service, and generosity ([[Philippians 4:18]], [[Hebrews 13:16]]) are considered "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" ([[1 Peter 2:5]]), carrying the spiritual aroma of acceptability.
### Summary
The Hebrew word nîychôwach (`{{H5207}}`), derived from the root nuwach (`{{H5117}}`) meaning "to rest," signifies a "pleasing aroma" or "sweet savor" that brings divine satisfaction. Predominantly used in the Old Testament sacrificial system, it describes offerings that are acceptable and delightful to the LORD, demonstrating His approval and contentment with the worshiper's obedience and devotion. This concept underscores the importance of proper worship within the covenant and points to God's desire for reconciliation. Theologically, nîychôwach finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament, where Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross is revealed as the supreme "fragrant offering" to God, perfectly satisfying divine justice and providing complete atonement. Furthermore, the spiritual sacrifices of believers, offered in faith and obedience, also carry the "pleasing aroma" of divine acceptance.