Lexical Summary
chaphets: To delight in, to take pleasure in, to desire
Original Word:חָפֵץ
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:chaphets
Pronunciation:khaw-fates'
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-fates')
KJV: delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish
NASB:delight, desires, pleases, takes pleasure, who delight, who delights, who favor
Word Origin:[fromH2654 (חָפֵץ - To delight in)]
1. pleased with
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
delight in, desire, favor, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish
Fromchaphets; pleased with -- delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish.
see HEBREWchaphets
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chaphetsDefinitiondelighting in, having pleasure in
NASB Translationdelight (4), desires (1), pleases (1), takes pleasure (1), who delight (1), who delights (1), who favor (1), willing (1), would (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; —
Psalm 5:5 4t.; plural
Malachi 3:1;
Nehemiah 1:11; construct
Psalm 35:27 2t.; suffix
Psalm 111:2; feminine
1 Chronicles 28:9; —
of man, with accusativePsalm 34:13;Psalm 35:27;Malachi 3:1; with infinitiveNehemiah 1:11; absolutewhosoever would1 Kings 13:33;if thou pleasest1 Kings 21:6;willing soul1 Chronicles 28:9; plural construct before nouns absolutePsalm 35:22;Psalm 40:15 =Psalm 70:3;studied of all who take pleasure in themPsalm 111:2.
of God,thou art not a God taking pleasure in wickednessPsalm 5:5.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope of חָפֵץThe word describes inward delight, preference, or willingness that moves a person—or God Himself—to specific action. It may portray a settled inclination (“delight,” “pleasure”), an ethical choice (“desire”), or a disposition of readiness (“willing”). Context determines whether the delight is pure or perverse.
Divine Delight and Moral Purity
Psalm 5:4 declares, “For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You.” God’s חָפֵץ is always consistent with His holiness. He never finds enjoyment in sin, yet He does delight in righteousness (Psalm 35:27) and in the covenant Messenger (Malachi 3:1). Believers may therefore rest in the certainty that the Lord’s pleasures are unchanging, righteous, and ultimately benevolent toward His people.
Human Delight: Righteous and Unrighteous
1. Righteous Delight
•1 Chronicles 28:9 – David exhorts Solomon to serve the LORD “with a willing mind,” showing that true covenant obedience springs from delighted willingness, not mere duty.
•Nehemiah 1:11 – The returned exiles are identified as “Your servants who delight to fear Your name,” illustrating reverence-filled pleasure in God’s honor.
•Psalm 34:12 – “Who is the man who delights in life and loves many days, that he may see good?” Righteous delight seeks a life ordered by divine wisdom and enjoys God’s good gifts.
2. Misguided or Sinful Delight
•1 Kings 13:33 – Jeroboam “ordained for himself priests of the high places; whoever desired it he consecrated,” revealing self-willed delight that ignored divine prescription.
•1 Kings 21:6 – Ahab covets Naboth’s vineyard: “Because Naboth the Jezreelite will not give me his vineyard… if it pleases you, I will give you a better vineyard.” The king’s distorted delight energizes oppression and murder.
•Psalm 40:14;Psalm 70:2 – Enemies “who wish me harm” embody destructive delight that opposes the righteous.
Delight and Covenant Hope
Malachi 3:1 draws post-exilic Israel to anticipate “the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” Their longing is portrayed as legitimate, even if their understanding was partial. The verse unites חָפֵץ with eschatological promise, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ, who fulfills covenant hopes and satisfies every rightly ordered desire.
Interplay of Delight and Vindication
Psalm 35:27 (where the term appears twice) presents two dimensions:
“‘Great is the LORD, who delights in the well-being of His servant!’” First, those who “delight in my vindication” are urged to exult; second, they affirm that the LORD Himself “delights” in the welfare of the righteous. Human delight aligns with divine delight when it centers upon God-wrought justice.
Historical Overview of Occurrences
• Divided Kingdom – Jeroboam’s pseudo-religious policy (1 Kings 13:33) and Ahab’s covetous scheme (1 Kings 21:6) exemplify royal abuses of delight.
• United Monarchy’s Close – David’s charge to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:9) shows covenant continuity: willing service remains essential.
• Post-exilic Community –Nehemiah 1:11 andMalachi 3:1 reveal a remnant whose delight is fixed on God’s name and future redemption.
• Psalms – Across prayers for protection (Psalms 40 and 70), hymns of confidence (Psalm 34), and laments / thanksgivings (Psalms 5 and 35), חָפֵץ alternates between describing God’s holy joy and human longing.
Ministry Implications
1. Cultivating Holy Delight
Spiritual formation aims not merely at right actions but at a heart that finds pleasure in what pleases God. Regular Scripture intake, corporate worship, and obedience nurtured by grace reshape desire toward holiness.
2. Discernment of Desires
Pastoral counseling should probe whether a believer’s “willingness” aligns with God’s character or mimics Jeroboam and Ahab. Desires become indicators of spiritual health.
3. Encouraging Willing Service
Ministry recruitment benefits from highlighting David’s principle: God is served best by “a willing mind.” Leaders should seek willingness birthed by delight, not coercion.
4. Hope in Divine Good Pleasure
When opposition arises, believers echoPsalm 35:27, trusting that the LORD “delights in the well-being of His servant.” Suffering is tempered by confidence in God’s affectionate involvement.
Summary
חָפֵץ encompasses the spectrum of delight—from God’s flawless pleasure to humanity’s noble or corrupt desires. Scripture employs the word to expose sinful cravings, commend willing obedience, and celebrate divine favor. Rightly understood, חָפֵץ challenges believers to examine what they find pleasing, to align their delight with God’s moral goodness, and to wait expectantly for the consummation of every righteous desire in the covenant-keeping Lord.
Forms and Transliterations
הֶ֝חָפֵ֗ץ הֶֽחָפֵץ֙ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ הַֽחֲפֵצִים֙ החפץ החפצים חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י חֲפֵצִים֙ חֲפֵצֵ֪י חֲפֵצָ֔ה חָפֵ֘ץ חָפֵ֣ץ חפץ חפצה חפצי חפצים chaFetz chafeTzah chafeTzei chafeTzim ha·ḥă·p̄ê·ṣîm ḥă·p̄ê·ṣāh ḥă·p̄ê·ṣê ḥă·p̄ê·ṣîm ḥā·p̄êṣ hachafeTzim haḥăp̄êṣîm ḥāp̄êṣ ḥăp̄êṣāh ḥăp̄êṣê ḥăp̄êṣîm he·ḥā·p̄êṣ hechaFetz heḥāp̄êṣ
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